Why light can't penetrate the prism with 45 degree angle

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the question of why light cannot penetrate a prism with a 45-degree angle. Participants explore various scenarios, conditions, and factors affecting light's behavior when interacting with prisms, including total internal reflection and the influence of incident angles.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that light enters the prism but cannot escape due to total internal reflection.
  • Others argue that the question lacks specificity, as many situations allow light to pass through a 45-degree prism depending on various parameters.
  • One participant mentions that the angle of incidence and the material of the prism are crucial factors in determining whether light can penetrate.
  • Another participant points out that the density difference between the prism and air plays a role, but questions whether this is the only reason.
  • Some participants emphasize the need for more detailed conditions, such as the incident angle and the direction of the incoming ray, to provide a clearer answer.
  • A later reply discusses the concept of total internal reflection and mentions the presence of evanescent waves, indicating that not all light is completely reflected.
  • There is a mention of Snell's Law and its relevance to the discussion, though it is not elaborated upon in detail.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus, as multiple competing views remain regarding the conditions under which light can or cannot penetrate a prism with a 45-degree angle. The discussion highlights the complexity and generality of the question, with various interpretations and factors considered.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reveals limitations in the original question's assumptions and definitions, as participants note the need for clarity regarding incident angles, prism material, and specific conditions affecting light behavior.

Gazi
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why light can't penetrate the prism with 45 degree angle?
 
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Gazi said:
why light can't penetrate the prism with 45 degree angle?
You have to specify other details, otherwise the question becomes invalid because there are many situations in which a light can pass through a 45 degree prism.
 
Let say, light comes with wide angle like 60 degree of normal of surface and reflect with same angle. there is a formula about that in the web page. why it can't penetrate the prism with wide angle? difference of density between prism and air is a factor, is there another reason for it
 
Gazi said:
Let say, light comes with wide angle like 60 degree of normal of surface and reflect with same angle. there is a formula about that in the web page. why it can't penetrate the prism with wide angle?
That still does not add that much to give a unique solution to the original question. Other details that should be given are the incident angle, the direction of the incoming ray (i.e. from above or below the normal line), and prism material.
 
it's not a unique question in fact. it's a general question about the situation of light can't penetrate prism and reflect back. one reason is difference of density...
 
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The way you phrase your question makes it as if no matter what other parameters are, so long as the prism apex angle is 45 degree, any incoming light cannot come out of the prism in the other side. I can have a situation with prism apex angle other than 45 degree but the light cannot penetrate the prism.
Gazi said:
one reason is difference of density...
Density of the material? You mean the refractive indices? Then it should also have been stated in the beginning as a condition, along with other parameters which makes the question unambiguous.
 
It sure can "penetrate". Look at this case:

refr-90dev-prism.jpg

You may have in mind something but definitely did not describe it with enough detail.
 
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Gazi said:
it's not a unique question in fact. it's a general question about the situation of light can't penetrate prism and reflect back. one reason is difference of density...
Yep, it sure is. It is, as others have pointed out, SUCH a general question that it does not have an answer, or looked at differently, it has lots of answers. That's why everyone is pressing you to ask a more specific question that perhaps DOES have an answer.
 
  • #10
nasu said:
It sure can "penetrate". Look at this case:

refr-90dev-prism.jpg

You may have in mind something but definitely did not describe it with enough detail.
Light can penetrate with 0 degree of normal of surface and it is reflected with 45 degree of normal of surface. as it seems in illustration. Density of glass is more than air. I don't ask a specific question about that. my point what is the reason of reflection of light depends on angle of it
 
  • #11
In fact, what is called total internal reflection is a phenomenon where some light refracts, not being, then, exactly " total" this reflection.
There appears an evanescent wave at the other side of the prism, which is a patern of intensity that falls exponentially with the distance from the walls of the prism.
Nevertheless, I see that there is space for doubts with respect to the physics of this special case in the chapter of "refraction".

Best wishes,

DaTario
 
  • #12
Snell's Law?
 
  • #13
Gazi said:
my point what is the reason of reflection of light depends on angle of it
"Reflection" is not a physical quantity, so there is no mathematical relations which can associated to it. Nevertheless there are two quantities which may be related to the phenomena of light reflection: reflection coefficient and the angle of reflection. The dependency of both of these quantities on the incident angle can be derived through the Maxwell equations at the boundary of the two media.
 

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