Reflection, Refraction, and Total Internal Reflection Reflection: Reflection is the process by which light bounces back from a surface after striking it....
Reflection:
Reflection is the process by which light bounces back from a surface after striking it. The angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence, regardless of the properties of the surface.
Refraction:
Refraction is the bending of light when it passes from one medium to another with a different speed of light. This causes light to bend towards the normal. Refraction occurs when light travels from a denser medium to a less dense medium, or when light travels from a less dense medium to a denser medium.
Total Internal Reflection:
Total internal reflection occurs when light enters a medium with a higher refractive index (the refractive index of the denser medium) from a medium with a lower refractive index. This causes the light to reflect back into the denser medium, even though the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle.
The critical angle is the angle of incidence at which light would just barely continue to travel into the denser medium. Any light rays that strike the surface with an angle of incidence greater than the critical angle will be refracted back into the denser medium.
Total internal reflection is used in various applications such as optical fibers, laser beams, and microscopes