In total internal reflection, the light travels from

In total internal reflection, the light travels from

rarer to denser medium and it occurs with no loss of intensity
denser to rarer medium and it occurs with no loss of intensity
rarer to denser medium and it occurs with loss of intensity
denser to rarer medium and it occurs with loss of intensity
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2016
Total internal reflection (TIR) is a phenomenon that occurs when light rays travel from a denser medium to a rarer medium and strike the boundary at an angle greater than the critical angle. At this angle, all the light is reflected back into the denser medium. This process is considered lossless because ideally, no light is transmitted or absorbed at the boundary.
For total internal reflection to occur, two conditions must be met: light must travel from a denser medium to a rarer medium, and the angle of incidence must exceed the critical angle. It is characterized by minimal to no loss of intensity upon reflection.
When light travels from a rarer to a denser medium, reflection and refraction occur, but total internal reflection is not possible. Reflection at an interface typically involves some loss of intensity due to absorption or incomplete reflection. Total internal reflection is used in technologies like fiber optics and prisms due to its high efficiency in reflecting light.
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