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    GlossaryTotal Internal Reflection

    light reflects entirely within a medium at a critical angle

    Total Internal Reflection (TIR) occurs when a light wave traveling through a medium with a higher refractive index (like water or glass) hits the boundary of a medium with a lower refractive index (like air) at an angle greater than the critical angle, causing the light to be completely reflected back into the original medium rather than refracting through the boundary. This phenomenon is crucial in fiber optics, where it allows light to be efficiently transmitted over long distances with minimal loss.

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