Exam-style question
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Which statement is true regarding the conditions for total internal reflection?.
- A.It occurs only when light travels from a less dense to a denser medium.
- B.It requires the angle of incidence to be less than the critical angle.
- C.It can occur at any angle of incidence.
- D.It occurs when light travels from a denser to a less dense medium.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- It occurs when light travels from a denser to a less dense medium.
Explanation
Why this works
Total internal reflection can only occur when light is moving from a denser medium to a less dense medium and the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle.
Common mistake
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