- View more resources from this publisher
Physics Online
Tooltip
These resources have been reviewed and selected by STEM Learning’s team of education specialists for factual accuracy and relevance to teaching STEM subjects in UK schools.
Waves - total internal reflection and critical angle
This video begins by showing a demonstration of total internal reflection (TIR) through a semi-circular glass block.
It develops an understanding of TIR by showing that as the angle of incidence (θi) increases so too does the angle of refraction (θr). Eventually, as θi is increased, the angle of refracted light will reach 90⁰. The incident angle which produces this is called the critical angle (θc). Above θc all light is reflected back into the glass block. This is termed TIR.
Sinθc = nair/nglass
Show health and safety information
Please be aware that resources have been published on the website in the form that they were originally supplied. This means that procedures reflect general practice and standards applicable at the time resources were produced and cannot be assumed to be acceptable today. Website users are fully responsible for ensuring that any activity, including practical work, which they carry out is in accordance with current regulations related to health and safety and that an appropriate risk assessment has been carried out.
Information on the permitted use of this resource is covered by the Category Three Content section in STEM Learning’s Terms and conditions.
