CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that ____________ has successfully

completed his/her Physics project titled “TOTAL
INTERNAL REFLECTION” under the supervision
and guidance of PHYSICS TEACHER in the partial
fulfilment of the Physics practical assessment
conducted during the academic year 2023-2024.

EXAMINER TEACHER
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my immense gratitude to my

physics teacher Mrs. Bhupinder Kaur for the help and
guidance he/she provided for completing this project.

I also thank my parents who gave their ideas and inputs in

making this project. Most of all I thank our school
management, for providing us the facilities and
opportunity to do this project.

Lastly, I would like to thanks my classmates who have

done this project along with me. Their support made this
project fruitful.

Student Name
 INDEX
CONTENT PAGE NO.

CERTIFICATE 2

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 3

INTRODUCTION 4

TIR USING SODA BOTTLE 5

MATERIAL REQUIRED 6

PROCEDURE 7

PRECAUTION 8

THEORY 9

APPLICATION OF TIR 10

TIR IN DIAMOND 10

BIBLIOGRAPHY 13
 INTRODUCTION
Total internal reflection is an optical phenomenon that happens when a
ray of light strikes a medium boundary at an angle larger than a
particular critical angle with respect to the normal to the surface. If the
refractive index is lower on the other side of the boundary and the
incident angle is greater than the critical angle, no light can pass through
and all of the light is reflected. The critical angle is the angle of
incidence above which the total internal reflectance occurs.

When a light beam crosses a boundary between materials with

different kinds of refractive indices, the light beam will be partially
refracted at the boundary surface, and partially reflected. However, if
the angle of incidence is greater (i.e. the ray is closer to being parallel
to the boundary) than the critical angle — the angle of incidence at
which light is refracted such that it travels along the boundary — then
the light will stop crossing the boundary altogether and instead be
totally reflected back internally. This can only occur where light travels
from a medium with a higher [n1=higher refractive index] to one with a
lower refractive index [n2=lower refractive index]. For example, it will
occur when passing from glass to air, but not when passing from air to
glass.
Air

Water
 THEORY
CRITICAL ANGLE
The critical angle is the angle of incidence above which total internal reflection
occurs. The angle of incidence is measured with respect to the normal at the
refractive boundary (see diagram illustrating Snell's law). Consider a light ray
passing from glass into air. The light emanating from the interface is bent towards
the glass. When the incident angle is increased sufficiently, the transmitted angle
(in air) reaches 90 degrees. It is at this point no light is transmitted into air.
The critical angle is given by Snell's law.
𝒏𝟏 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽𝒊 = 𝒏𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽𝒕
Rearranging Snell's Law, we get incidence
𝒏𝟐
𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽𝒊 = 𝒏𝟏 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽𝒕

To find the critical angle, we find the value for 𝜃𝑖 when 𝜽𝒕 = 90 0 and thus,
sin 𝜽𝒕= 1.

The resulting value of is equal to the critical angle 9c

Now, we can solve for 𝜃𝑖, and we get the equation for the critical angle: 𝜽𝒄

= 𝜽𝒊 = 𝒔𝒊𝒏−𝟏 (𝒏𝒏𝟐𝟏)

If the incident ray is precisely at the critical angle, the refracted ray is tangent to
the boundary at the point of incidence. If for example, visible light is travelling
through acrylic glass (with an index of refraction of 1.50) into air (with an index
of refraction of 1.00), the calculation would give the critical angle for light from
acrylic into air, which is

−𝟏 𝟏. 𝟎𝟎
𝜽𝒄 = 𝐬𝐢𝐧 ( ) = 𝟒𝟏. 𝟖°
𝟏. 𝟓𝟎
 TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION IN
DIAMOND
From glass to air the critical angle is about 42 0 but it varies from
one medium to another. The material that gives the smallest
critical angle is diamond. That is why they sparkle so much!
Rays of light can easily be made to 'bounce around inside them'
by careful cutting of the stone and the refraction at the surfaces
splits the light into a spectrum of colours! Relatively speaking,
the critical angle 24. 4 0 for the diamond-air boundary is
extremely small. This property of the diamond-air boundary
plays an important role in the brilliance of a diamond gemstone.
Having a small critical angle, light has the tendency to become
"trapped" inside of a diamond once it enters. Most rays approach
the diamond at angles of incidence greater than the critical angle
(as it is so small) so a light ray will typically undergo TIR
several times before finally refracting out of the diamond. This
gives diamond a tendency to sparkle. The effect can be enhanced
by the cutting of a diamond gemstone with a 'strategically'
planned shape.
APPLICATIONS OF TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION
* Total internal reflection is the operating principle of optical fibres, which
are used in endoscopes and telecommunications.

* Total internal reflection is the operating principle of automotive rain

sensors, which control automatic windscreen/windshield wipers.

* Another application of total internal reflection is the spatial filtering of

light.

* Prismatic binoculars use the principle of total internal reflections to get a

very clear image.

* Gonioscopy employs total internal reflection to view the anatomical angle

formed between the eye's cornea and iris.

* Optical fingerprinting devices use frustrated total internal reflection in

order to record an image of a person's fingerprint without the use of ink.

* A Total internal reflection fluorescence microscope uses the evanescent

wave produced by TIR to excite fluorophores close to a surface. This is
useful for the study of surface properties of biological samples.
 EXAMPLES IN EVERYDAY LIFE
Total internal reflection can be observed while swimming, when one opens one's
eyes just under the water's surface. If the water is calm, its surface appears
mirror-like. One can demonstrate total internal reflection by filling a sink or bath
with water, taking a glass tumbler, and placing it upside-down over the plug hole
(with the tumbler completely filled with water). While water remains both in the
upturned tumbler and in the sink surrounding it, the plug hole and plug are visible
since the angle of refraction between glass and water is not greater than the
critical angle. If the drain is opened and the tumbler is kept in position over the
hole, the water in the tumbler drains out leaving the glass filled with air, and this
then acts as the plug. Viewing this from above, the tumbler now appears mirrored
because light reflects off the air/glass interface. This is different phenomenon
from reflection and refraction. Reflection occurs when light goes back in same
medium. Refraction occurs when light travels from different mediums. Here both
are not happening. This is due to both and a mixture of both.
Another common example of total internal reflection is a critically cut diamond.
This is what gives it maximum spark.

How a turtle experience TIR from inside water/sea

 TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION
USING A SODA BOTTLE
Explanation In this case n air = l. 00, n water =1.33 Therefore:

𝜽𝒄 = 𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 (𝟏 . 𝟎𝟎) = 𝟒𝟖. 𝟕°

𝟏. 𝟑𝟑

Air

In this demo, light will continually reflect through the stream of

water creating total internal reflection (TIR). The stream of water
will 'carry' the light though, to the end of the stream.
laser beam

Total Internal Reflection is the principle behind Fiber

optics.
 MATERIALS REOUIRED

❖ Empty soda pop bottle (2 Litre) – coke

❖ Tape – sticky on side glossy other side transparent plastic
❖ Hand drill – rotating mechanism with drill shape point which
rotates when it’s wheel is rotated by hand mechanism
❖ Dri11 bits – point shaped rod used with hand drill
❖ Water – dihydrogen monooxide
❖ Laser – laser light
❖ Bucket – something used to carry water mainly used during taking
bath
❖ Old books etc for stands – used as a small stool as I don’t have one
 PROCEDURE
▪ First set up the soda bottle by drilling a hole near the bottom of the bottle.
Begin with a drill bit that has a diameter which is slightly larger than the
diameter of the laser that will be used. We used a 1/4-inch drill bit, however
sizes as small as 7/32 inch worked as well.

▪ First tape the hole and then fill the bottle with water. The cap will prevent
leaking because it creates a vacuum in the bottle.

▪ Stand the soda bottle on top of a stack of books so the hole is facing the
bucket. The laser should be placed in a binder clip so it stays on, and then
set on a stack of books and papers. The laser should be lined up so that the
laser light goes through the soda bottle, and into the centre of the hole. See
for details.

▪ Carefully remove the tape and then unscrew the top of the soda bottle. The
light should reflect within the stream of water so that you could see at least
a few points of reflection. The light should be visible through the entire
stream.

▪ If the reflections of the light aren't clear, it may be necessary to expand the
hole by drilling through the existing hole with a larger drill bit. This process
may need to be repeated several times.
 PRECAUTION
This is a messy experiment. Be ready to adjust the bucket which catches the
stream of water.

Also, be aware that the stream's curvature will change as the water level
decreases. It will bend closer to the bottle, and the bucket may need to be
adjusted again. When the water level is a little above the hole there will be
no total internal reflection although the stream will continue. Place the cap
back on, or put the bottle inside of the bucket.

Make sure to have lots of paper towels! Towels or rags could be useful too.
However, this mess is water, and therefore easy to clean up.

Some resources suggest putting a drop of food coloring in the bottom of the
bucket to match the laser light, giving the appearance that the water has
permanently 'trapped' the coloured light.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

[Link]

• Google search engine

• Physics NCERT book for class Xll