Refraction of light at a Plane Interface: Total Internal Reflection: Optical Fibre
ICSE · Class 12 · Physics
Most important questions from Refraction of light at a Plane Interface: Total Internal Reflection: Optical Fibre for ICSE Class 12 Physics board exam 2026. MCQs, short answer, and long answer questions with marks.
Interactive on Super Tutor
Studying Refraction of light at a Plane Interface: Total Internal Reflection: Optical Fibre? Get the full interactive chapter.
Quizzes, flashcards, AI doubt-solver and a step-by-step study plan — built for important questions and more.
1,000+ Class 12 students started this chapter today
Sample Questions
A right-angled isosceles glass prism (angles 45°–90°–45°) is used as a totally reflecting prism. A ray enters normally through the hypotenuse face. At which face(s) does total internal reflection occur, and in what direction does the ray finally emerge? (Refractive index of glass = 1.5, critical ang
Show answer
TIR at each 45° face; ray emerges anti-parallel to the incident ray (turned 180°)
Step 1: When light enters through the hypotenuse face normally (perpendicular), it travels straight inside and hits one of the 45° faces. Step 2: At this face, the angle of incidence = 45° > critical angle (42°), so TIR occurs. Step 3: The ray reflects and travels to the second 45° face, again at 45° > 42°, so TIR occurs again. Step 4: After two TIRs at the 45° faces, the ray emerges through the hypotenuse anti-parallel (180° reversed) to the original direction. Step 5: This prism is used as a 'reversing prism' in binoculars. Option B describes a simple reflecting prism (entry through 45° face
A tank filled with water (n = 4/3) has a small bulb at the bottom at a depth of 75 cm. The radius of the circle on the water surface through which light can escape is:
Show answer
85.0 cm
Step 1: sin C = 1/n = 3/4. Step 2: cos C = √(1 – 9/16) = √(7/16) = √7/4. Step 3: tan C = sin C / cos C = (3/4) / (√7/4) = 3/√7. Step 4: Radius r = h × tan C = 75 × (3/√7) = 225/√7 = 225/2.6458 ≈ 85.0 cm. Step 5: The area through which light can escape is πr². Here the question asks for radius = 85.0 cm. Option A uses sin C instead of tan C; Option C uses tan C = 1; Option D uses an incorrect value of tan C.
A ray of light in glass (n_glass = 1.5) is incident at a glass-water interface at the critical angle for that interface. What is the critical angle? (n_water = 4/3, correct to nearest degree)
Show answer
62.7°
Step 1: For the glass-water interface, the critical angle C is where the refracted ray in water makes 90° with the normal. Step 2: sin C = n_water / n_glass = (4/3) / (3/2) = (4/3) × (2/3) = 8/9. Step 3: sin C = 8/9 = 0.8889. Step 4: C = sin⁻¹(0.8889) ≈ 62.7°. Step 5: This is larger than the glass-air critical angle (≈41.8°) because water is denser than air, so a larger angle is needed for TIR at glass-water interface. Option A (48.6°) is the water-air critical angle; Option B (41.8°) is the glass-air critical angle; Option D is an incorrect calculation.
A microscope is focused on a mark on the bottom of a beaker. The microscope is raised by 2.4 cm. To what height must water (n = 4/3) be poured to bring the mark back into focus?
Show answer
9.6 cm
Step 1: When the microscope is raised by 2.4 cm, the normal displacement of the image must equal 2.4 cm to refocus the mark. Step 2: The normal displacement formula is: d = t(1 – 1/n), where t is the height of water. Step 3: 2.4 = t(1 – 1/(4/3)) = t(1 – 3/4) = t × (1/4). Step 4: t = 2.4 × 4 = 9.6 cm. Step 5: So water must be poured to a height of 9.6 cm. Option A (7.2 cm) uses d = t × (1/3) incorrectly; Option B (3.2 cm) uses t = d × (4/3); Option D (6.4 cm) uses d = t × (3/8).
+40 more questions available
Practice AllFrequently Asked Questions
What are the important topics in Refraction of light at a Plane Interface: Total Internal Reflection: Optical Fibre for ICSE Class 12 Physics?
How to score full marks in Refraction of light at a Plane Interface: Total Internal Reflection: Optical Fibre — ICSE Class 12 Physics?
How many important questions are there in Refraction of light at a Plane Interface: Total Internal Reflection: Optical Fibre?
Sources & Official References
Content is aligned to the official syllabus. Refer to the board website for the latest curriculum.
More resources for Refraction of light at a Plane Interface: Total Internal Reflection: Optical Fibre
Practice Quiz
Test yourself with a quick quiz
Revision Notes
Key points for last-minute revision
Formula Sheet
All formulas in one place
Chapter Summary
Understand the chapter at a glance
Concept Maps
See how topics connect visually
Study Plan
Step-by-step plan to ace this chapter
Flashcards
Quick-fire cards for active recall
Syllabus
What topics to cover
NCERT Solutions
Every textbook question solved step by step
For serious students
Get the full Refraction of light at a Plane Interface: Total Internal Reflection: Optical Fibre chapter — for free.
Quizzes, flashcards, AI doubt-solver and a step-by-step study plan for ICSE Class 12 Physics.