Question

What are two uses of total internal reflection? (GCSE Physics)

Answer 1

Answer:

1) Used in optical instruments such as telescopes.

2) Used to form mirages

Explanation:

1) Perhaps the simplest example of this is the astronomical refractor telescope with a right-angle eyepiece holder. Astro scopes mostly point at things high in the sky, but it is inconvenient to place your eye low to look up through the scope, so the light path is bent 90 degrees just before the eyepiece. This can be done with a mirror, but using a simple 45 degree prism (internal angles 45, 45, and 90 degrees) will do the 90 degree bend more efficiently.

2) So when a light pass from cold air to hot air light tends to bend from its path which is known as refraction. As the light get refracted it reaches to a point where the light tends to form 90 degree angle.