Consider the following statements regarding the phenomenon of total internal reflection: 1. Light must travel from an optically denser medium to an optically rarer medium. 2. The angle of incidence in the denser medium must be greater than the critical angle for that pair of media. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Total internal reflection occurs when two specific conditions are met simultaneously: light must travel from a medium of higher refractive index to one of lower refractive index, and the angle of incidence must exceed the critical angle corresponding to those media. Optical fibers, mirage formations, and diamond sparkle operate entirely on this fundamental optical principle. Both statements are therefore accurate.