Kokonaissäteyden

Kokonaissäteyden, also known as total internal reflection, is a phenomenon that occurs when a wave, such as light or sound, strikes the boundary between two media and is reflected back into the same medium. This phenomenon is particularly well-known in optics, where it is used in various applications, including fiber optics and prisms.

In optics, total internal reflection happens when light travels from a medium with a higher refractive index to a medium with a lower refractive index. The refractive index is a measure of how much the speed of light is reduced when it passes through a medium. When the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle, all the light is reflected back into the original medium, and none is transmitted to the other medium. This is known as total internal reflection.

The critical angle is the angle of incidence above which total internal reflection occurs. It can be calculated using Snell's law, which relates the angles of incidence and refraction to the refractive indices of the two media.

Total internal reflection is used in fiber optics to transmit light over long distances with minimal loss. It is also used in prisms to redirect light and in optical instruments to create images. In addition to optics, total internal reflection can also occur with sound waves, such as in underwater acoustics.