Total Internal Reflection
There is a small source of light at some depth below the surface of water (refractive index = ) in a tank of large cross sectional surface area. Neglecting any reflection from the bottom and absorption by water, percentage of light that emerges out of surface is (nearly): [Use the fact that surface area of a spherical cap of height h and radius of curvature r is 2rh]:
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Answer: (a)
- Only light inside the cone of half-angle escapes: , .
- On a sphere of radius about the source, this cone cuts a cap of height .
- Fraction .
- So the answer is (a) 17%.