CRITICAL ANGLE Meaning and
Definition
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The critical angle is a term used in physics and optics to describe the specific angle at which light traveling through a denser medium reaches the boundary of a less dense medium and is no longer refracted but totally reflected back into the original medium. At this critical angle, the refracted ray bends so much that it lies along the boundary, resulting in an angle of incidence of 90 degrees.
This phenomenon occurs due to the difference in refractive indices between the two media involved. The refractive index is a measure of how much a particular material can bend or refract light. When the angle of incidence is smaller than the critical angle, light passes through the boundary and is refracted according to Snell's law. However, as the angle of incidence increases and reaches the critical angle, the refracted angle of light becomes 90 degrees, causing total internal reflection.
The critical angle has practical applications, such as in fiber optics, where it is used to transmit light signals over long distances. By ensuring that the angle of incidence is larger than the critical angle, the light remains trapped within the core of the fiber, allowing for efficient transmission without loss of signal. The concept of the critical angle also finds applications in various fields like microscopy, telecommunications, and underwater imaging systems.
Common Misspellings for CRITICAL ANGLE
- xritical angle
- vritical angle
- fritical angle
- dritical angle
- ceitical angle
- cditical angle
- cfitical angle
- ctitical angle
- c5itical angle
- c4itical angle
- crutical angle
- crjtical angle
- crktical angle
- crotical angle
- cr9tical angle
- cr8tical angle
- crirical angle
- crifical angle
- crigical angle
Etymology of CRITICAL ANGLE
The word "critical" comes from the Latin word "criticus", meaning "able to discern" or "capable of judging". It was borrowed into English in the 16th century with the same meaning. The word "angle" originated from the Latin word "angulus", which means "corner" or "angle". When these two words are combined, "critical angle" refers to a specific angle at which light traveling from a denser medium to a less dense medium is completely refracted and does not pass through. The term "critical angle" was first introduced by the British scientist Thomas Young in the early 19th century.
Similar spelling words for CRITICAL ANGLE
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