Ty is trying to fabricate a total internal reflection classroom demo using a quartz cylinder, shown below. The cylinder has index of refraction of 1.46. Fatima would like to cut the end of the cylinder at some angle (shown in the figure) so that when light enters normal to the face, it will be totally internally reflected within the cylinder (as shown in the bottom figure). What is the smallest angle that she can make this cut at? (NOTE: the demo is intended to be used in air, i.e., when the quartz cylinder is surrounded by air. Assume the index of refraction in air is 1.00. Why is Fatima going through the trouble of cutting the cylinder? (After all, quartz is not an easy material to cut!) Why not just keep it as it is? Briefly explain, with the help of a sketch, what complication arises if she keeps the cylinder face flat.
Applications Of Reflection Of Light
When a light ray (termed as the incident ray) hits a surface and bounces back (forms a reflected ray), the process of reflection of light has taken place.
Sign Convention for Mirrors
A mirror is made of glass that is coated with a metal amalgam on one side due to which the light ray incident on the surface undergoes reflection and not refraction.
Ty is trying to fabricate a total internal reflection classroom demo using a quartz cylinder, shown below. The cylinder has index of refraction of 1.46. Fatima would like to cut the end of the cylinder at some angle (shown in the figure) so that when light enters normal to the face, it will be totally internally reflected within the cylinder (as shown in the bottom figure). What is the smallest angle that she can make this cut at? (NOTE: the demo is intended to be used in air, i.e., when the quartz cylinder is surrounded by air. Assume the index of refraction in air is 1.00.
Why is Fatima going through the trouble of cutting the cylinder? (After all, quartz is not an easy material to cut!) Why not just keep it as it is? Briefly explain, with the help of a sketch, what complication arises if she keeps the cylinder face flat.
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