Exam-style question
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What condition must be met for total internal reflection to occur?.
- A.Light must travel from a denser to a less dense medium
- B.Light must travel from a less dense to a denser medium
- C.The angle of incidence must be less than the critical angle
- D.The angle of incidence must be equal to the critical angle
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- Light must travel from a denser to a less dense medium
Explanation
Why this works
Total internal reflection occurs when light travels from a denser medium to a less dense medium and the angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle, leading to the light being completely reflected back into the denser medium.
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