Edexcel GCSE Physics · 1PH0
Specification 5.1P · Paper 1
Revise: Ray Diagrams and TIRAll the incident light is reflected back inside the original material. This is total internal reflection, or TIR.
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GCSE Physics · key term
The complete reflection of light at a boundary when it travels towards a lower-refractive-index material at an angle of incidence greater than the critical angle.
Used by Edexcel
Specification 5.1P · Paper 1
Revise: Ray Diagrams and TIRAll the incident light is reflected back inside the original material. This is total internal reflection, or TIR.
At the critical angle, the refracted ray travels along the boundary. Total internal reflection occurs only when the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle.
For total internal reflection, state both conditions: light travels from a higher refractive index to a lower refractive index, and the angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle.
Do not write only “internal reflection” when asked to name the phenomenon: use the full term “total internal reflection”.
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