Chapter 20, Problem 20.19P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The critical angle for total internal reflection at the solvent/silica and total internal reflection in the photo has to be calculated.

Concept introduction:

Snell’s law:

${\text{n}}_{\text{1}}\text{sin}{\text{θ}}_{\text{1}}\text{=}{\text{n}}_{\text{2}}\text{sin}{\text{θ}}_{\text{2}}$

${\text{n}}_{\text{1}}\text{and}{\text{n}}_{\text{2}}$ are the refractive indexes of the two media

${\text{θ}}_{\text{1}}\text{and}{\text{θ}}_{\text{2}}$

The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection by the light is reflected.

The critical angle for total internal reflection is sin ${\text{θ}}_{\text{critical}}\text{=}\frac{{\text{n}}_{\text{2}}}{{\text{n}}_{\text{1}}}$