Total Internal Reflection - Questions
The Total Internal Reflection Concept Builder is comprised of 36 questions. The questions are divided into 12 different Question Groups and spread across three activities. Questions in the same group are very similar in nature. For instance, the given information may be the same or they may each show an incident ray present in the same medium. The Concept Builder is coded to select at random a question from each group until a student is successful with that group of questions.
There are three different activities that can be engaged in through the Concept Builder. The three activities are described as follows:
- To TIR or Not To TIR: Question Groups 1-4. Students are given comparative information about the two media and must identify any diagram that portrays an incident ray that would undergo TIR.
- R&R or TIR: Question Groups 5-8. Students match three different types of boundary behaviors to the relationship between the angle of incidence and the critical angle.
- Angle is Critical: Question Groups 9-12. Students are given comparative information about the two media and a critical angle and must identify any diagram that portrays an incident ray that would undergo TIR.
The questions from each group are shown below. Teachers are encouraged to view the questions (or do the
Concept Builder) in order to judge which activity is most appropriate for their classes.
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Total Internal Reflection
Activity 1: To TIR or Not TIR
Question Group 1
Question 1
For the three situations below, the relative speed (v) of light in Medium 1 and 2 is shown. In which situation(s) could the light ray undergo total internal reflection (assuming that the angle of incidence were sufficiently large)?
Question 2
For the three situations below, the relative speed (v) of light in Medium 1 and 2 is shown. In which situation(s) could the light ray undergo total internal reflection (assuming that the angle of incidence were sufficiently large)?
Question 3
For the three situations below, the relative speed (v) of light in Medium 1 and 2 is shown. In which situation(s) could the light ray undergo total internal reflection (assuming that the angle of incidence were sufficiently large)?
Question Group 2
Question 4
For the three situations below, the relative optical density (<B>d</B>) of Medium 1 and 2 is shown. In which situation(s) could the light ray undergo total internal reflection (assuming that the angle of incidence were sufficiently large)?
Question 5
For the three situations below, the relative optical density (d) of Medium 1 and 2 is shown. In which situation(s) could the light ray undergo total internal reflection (assuming that the angle of incidence were sufficiently large)?
Question 6
For the three situations below, the relative optical density (d) of Medium 1 and 2 is shown. In which situation(s) could the light ray undergo total internal reflection (assuming that the angle of incidence were sufficiently large)?
Question Group 3
Question 7
For the three situations below, the relative index of refraction (n) of Medium 1 and 2 is shown. In which situation(s) could the light ray undergo total internal reflection (assuming that the angle of incidence were sufficiently large)?
Question 8
For the three situations below, the relative index of refraction (n) of Medium 1 and 2 is shown. In which situation(s) could the light ray undergo total internal reflection (assuming that the angle of incidence were sufficiently large)?
Question 9
For the three situations below, the relative index of refraction (n) of Medium 1 and 2 is shown. In which situation(s) could the light ray undergo total internal reflection (assuming that the angle of incidence were sufficiently large)?
Question Group 4
Question 10
For the three situations below, the relative optical density (d) of Medium 1 and 2 is shown. In which situation(s) could the light ray undergo total internal reflection (assuming that the angle of incidence were sufficiently large)?
Question 11
For the three situations below, the relative optical density (d) of Medium 1 and 2 is shown. In which situation(s) could the light ray undergo total internal reflection (assuming that the angle of incidence were sufficiently large)?
Question 12
For the three situations below, the relative optical density (d) of Medium 1 and 2 is shown. In which situation(s) could the light ray undergo total internal reflection (assuming that the angle of incidence were sufficiently large)?
Activity 2: R and R or TIR
Question Group 5
Question 13
The three cases below show light traveling from a more dense to a less dense medium at varying angles of incidence. In one case, the angle of incidence (Θ
inc) is equal to the critical angle (Θ
crit). In the other two cases, the angle of incidence (Θ
inc) is either greater than (>) or less than (<) the critical angle (Θ
crit).
Question 14
The three cases below show light traveling from a more dense to a less dense medium at varying angles of incidence. In one case, the angle of incidence (Θ
inc) is equal to the critical angle (Θ
crit). In the other two cases, the angle of incidence (Θ
inc) is either greater than (>) or less than (<) the critical angle (Θ
crit).
Question 15
The three cases below show light traveling from a more dense to a less dense medium at varying angles of incidence. In one case, the angle of incidence (Θ
inc) is equal to the critical angle (Θ
crit). In the other two cases, the angle of incidence (Θ
inc) is either greater than (>) or less than (<) the critical angle (Θ
crit).
Question Group 6
Question 16
The three cases below show light traveling from a more dense to a less dense medium at varying angles of incidence. In one case, the angle of incidence (Θ
inc) is equal to the critical angle (Θ
crit). In the other two cases, the angle of incidence (Θ
inc) is either greater than (>) or less than (<) the critical angle (Θ
crit).
Question 17
The three cases below show light traveling from a more dense to a less dense medium at varying angles of incidence. In one case, the angle of incidence (Θ
inc) is equal to the critical angle (Θ
crit). In the other two cases, the angle of incidence (Θ
inc) is either greater than (>) or less than (<) the critical angle (Θ
crit).
Question 18
The three cases below show light traveling from a more dense to a less dense medium at varying angles of incidence. In one case, the angle of incidence (Q
inc) is equal to the critical angle (Θ
crit). In the other two cases, the angle of incidence (Q
inc) is either greater than (>) or less than (<) the critical angle (Θ
crit).
Question Group 7
Question 19
The three cases below show light traveling from a more dense to a less dense medium at varying angles of incidence. In one case, the angle of incidence (Θ
inc) is equal to the critical angle (Θ
crit). In the other two cases, the angle of incidence (Θ
inc) is either greater than (>) or less than (<) the critical angle (Θ
crit).
Question 20
The three cases below show light traveling from a more dense to a less dense medium at varying angles of incidence. In one case, the angle of incidence (Θ
inc) is equal to the critical angle (Θ
crit). In the other two cases, the angle of incidence (Θ
inc) is either greater than (>) or less than (<) the critical angle (Θ
crit).
Question 21
The three cases below show light traveling from a more dense to a less dense medium at varying angles of incidence. In one case, the angle of incidence (Θ
inc) is equal to the critical angle (Θ
crit). In the other two cases, the angle of incidence (Θ
inc) is either greater than (>) or less than (<) the critical angle (Θ
crit).
Question Group 8
Question 22
The three cases below show light traveling from a more dense to a less dense medium at varying angles of incidence. In one case, the angle of incidence (Θ
inc) is equal to the critical angle (Θ
crit). In the other two cases, the angle of incidence (Θ
inc) is either greater than (>) or less than (<) the critical angle (Θ
crit).
Question 23
The three cases below show light traveling from a more dense to a less dense medium at varying angles of incidence. In one case, the angle of incidence (Θ
inc) is equal to the critical angle (Θ
crit). In the other two cases, the angle of incidence (Θ
inc) is either greater than (>) or less than (<) the critical angle (Θ
crit).
Question 24
The three cases below show light traveling from a more dense to a less dense medium at varying angles of incidence. In one case, the angle of incidence (Θ
inc) is equal to the critical angle (Θ
crit). In the other two cases, the angle of incidence (Θ
inc) is either greater than (>) or less than (<) the critical angle (Θ
crit).
Activity 3: Angle is Critical
Question Group 9
Question 25
Medium 2 is more dense than medium 1. The critical angle for the boundary is 30°. In which diagram(s) below will the incident ray undergo total internal reflection? Tap on all that apply.
Question 26
Medium 2 is more dense than medium 1. The critical angle for the boundary is 30°. In which diagram(s) below will the incident ray undergo total internal reflection? Tap on all that apply.
Question 27
Medium 1 is more dense than medium 2. The critical angle for the boundary is 30°. In which diagram(s) below will the incident ray undergo total internal reflection? Tap on all that apply.
Question Group 10
Question 28
Light travels faster in medium 1 than in medium 2. The critical angle for the boundary is 40°. In which diagram(s) below will the incident ray undergo total internal reflection? Tap on all that apply.
Question 29
Light travels faster in medium 1 than in medium 2. The critical angle for the boundary is 40°. In which diagram(s) below will the incident ray undergo total internal reflection? Tap on all that apply.
Question 30
Light travels faster in medium 2 than in medium 1. The critical angle for the boundary is 40°. In which diagram(s) below will the incident ray undergo total internal reflection? Tap on all that apply.
Question Group 11
Question 31
The index of refraction of medium 1 is more than index of refraction of medium 2. The critical angle for the boundary is 45°. In which diagram(s) below will the incident ray undergo total internal reflection? Tap on all that apply.
Question 32
The index of refraction of medium 1 is more than index of refraction of medium 2. The critical angle for the boundary is 45°. In which diagram(s) below will the incident ray undergo total internal reflection? Tap on all that apply.
Question 33
The index of refraction of medium 2 is more than index of refraction of medium 1. The critical angle for the boundary is 45°. In which diagram(s) below will the incident ray undergo total internal reflection? Tap on all that apply.
Question Group 12
Question 34
Medium 1 is more dense than medium 2. The critical angle for the boundary is 50°. In which diagram(s) below will the incident ray undergo total internal reflection? Tap on all that apply.
Question 35
Medium 1 is more dense than medium 2. The critical angle for the boundary is 50°. In which diagram(s) below will the incident ray undergo total internal reflection? Tap on all that apply.
Question 36
Medium 2 is more dense than medium 1. The critical angle for the boundary is 50°. In which diagram(s) below will the incident ray undergo total internal reflection? Tap on all that apply.