Physical Principles & Mathematical Derivation
When light travels from a denser optical medium (e.g., Crown Glass n₁ = 1.52 or Diamond n₁ = 2.42) toward a lower-index medium (Air n₂ = 1.00), refracted rays bend away from the normal until reaching 90° at θc. Beyond θc, 100% of optical power reflects internally with zero transmission loss — enabling transoceanic fiber-optic cables!
Questions & Concepts
What physical equation governs Snell's Law Refraction & Fiber-Optic Total Internal Reflection Lab?
n₁ sin θ₁ = n₂ sin θ₂, θ_critical = arcsin(n₂ / n₁) — When light travels from a denser optical medium (e.g., Crown Glass n₁ = 1.52 or Diamond n₁ = 2.42) toward a lower-index medium (Air n₂ = 1.00), refracted rays bend away from the normal until reaching 90° at θc. Beyond θc, 100% of optical power reflects internally with zero transmission loss — enabling transoceanic fiber-optic cables!
How are the equations of motion integrated in this simulation?
Nonlinear differential equations are integrated at 240–300 Hz substeps using classical 4th-order Runge-Kutta (RK4) to maintain strict Hamiltonian energy accuracy.