Understanding in total internal reflection of light

Understanding in total internal reflection of light

1. The inside surface of a prism behaves like a mirror and forms a laterally inverted image as shown in the figure.
2. This happens because when the light rays in the prism strike the surface of the prism. 
3. The light rays are said to be internally reflected.
4. This phenomenon occurs when light travels from a denser medium into a less dense one, such as when light travels from glass into air.

Phenomena of total internal reflection

A light ray is refracted, dispersed and reflected internally in a raindrop.

1. A rainbow is formed by refraction, dispersion and total internal reflection of light within water droplets.
2. When the sunlight shines on millions of water droplets in the air during and after rain, we can see multicoloured arc.
3. The light that forms the primary rainbow is first refracted and disepered in the water droplet.

turtle in the see

rising sun

Application of total internal reflection of light

1. -Optical fiber, which are used in endoscope and telecommunication.
2. -Rain sensors to control automatic windscreen /windshield wipers.
3. -Prismatic binocular use the principle of total reflection to get a very clear image.
4. -Gonioscopy  to view the anatomical angle formed between the eye’s cornea and iris.