Question

5. (5 +5 10 pts) glass air In some optical instruments, like binoculars, one uses total internal reflection within a prism to reflect light. (i) Assuming that the refraction coefficient nair 1, find the minimal value of the refrac- tion coefficient, nglass, of the glass so that the ray of light in the figure above undergoes the total internal reflection as drawn. (ii) What will happen if the prism is immersed in water and the light enters the prism perpendicular to the base as above? Explain briefly and sketch a ray diagram. (nHo 1.33)

Answer 1

We can check the condition of total internal reflection by Snell's law as solved below