If a clear liquid has a refractive index of 1.45 and a transparent solid has a refractive index of 2.9, then for total internal reflection to occur at the interface between the two media; which of the following is correct?

Step-by-step solution

For total internal reflection to occur, light must travel from an optically denser medium to an optically rarer medium. The refractive index of the transparent solid is ₁ = 2.9 and that of the clear liquid is ₂ = 1.45 . Since ₁ > ₂ , the solid is the denser medium and the liquid is the rarer medium. Therefore, the light ray must travel from the transparent solid to the clear liquid. The critical angle _c is given by: _c = ₂ ₁ _c = 1.45 2.9 = 1 2 _c = 30^ Thus, the ray must travel from the transparent solid to the l