For light to undergo total internal reflection, it must travel from a medium with refractive index n1 n_1\,n1 towards a medium with refractive index n2n_2n2, with an angle of incidence θi\theta_iθi. Let θc \theta_c\,θc be the critical angle.
Which of the following sets of conditions is necessary for total internal reflection to occur?
n1<n2n_1 < n_2n1<n2 and θi<θc\theta_i < \theta_cθi<θc
n1<n2n_1 < n_2n1<n2 and θi>θc\theta_i > \theta_cθi>θc
n1>n2n_1 > n_2n1>n2 and θi<θc\theta_i < \theta_cθi<θc
n1>n2n_1 > n_2n1>n2 and θi>θc\theta_i > \theta_cθi>θc
216 exam-style questions on CIE IGCSE Physics 3.2 Light, covering 3.2.1a Reflection of light, 3.2.1b Images in a plane mirror, 3.2.2 Refraction of light, 3.2.2a Refraction of light, 3.2.2b Total internal reflection, 3.2.2c Refractive index and critical angle, 3.2.2d Optical fibres, 3.2.3a Converging and diverging lenses, 3.2.3b Ray diagrams and the nature of images, 3.2.3c Virtual images and the magnifying glass, 3.2.3d Correcting long-sightedness and short-sightedness, and 3.2.4 Dispersion of light. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.