Question

The coefficient of reflection for total internal reflection will be

• A. 0.5
• B. 1
• C. 0
• D. \(\infty\)

Hint:

The word "Total" in Total Internal Reflection is the key. It implies that 100% of the light is reflected. A coefficient of 1 corresponds to 100%. This principle is used in optical fibers to transmit light over long distances with minimal loss.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Total Internal Reflection (TIR) is an optical phenomenon that occurs when a ray of light traveling from a denser medium to a less dense medium strikes the boundary at an angle of incidence greater than the critical angle.
The coefficient of reflection (or reflectivity) is the ratio of the reflected power (or intensity) to the incident power (or intensity).
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
When TIR occurs, the boundary between the two media acts like a perfect mirror. No light is transmitted or refracted into the rarer medium; instead, the entire incident light is reflected back into the denser medium.
Let \(I_i\) be the intensity of the incident light and \(I_r\) be the intensity of the reflected light.
The coefficient of reflection, \(r\), is defined as:
\[ r = \frac{I_r}{I_i} \] In the case of Total Internal Reflection, all the incident energy is reflected, so \(I_r = I_i\).
Therefore, the coefficient of reflection is:
\[ r = \frac{I_i}{I_i} = 1 \] This means 100% of the light is reflected.
Step 3: Final Answer:
For total internal reflection, the coefficient of reflection is 1. Therefore, option (B) is correct.