Lesson Planet
Search educational resources
  • Sign In Try It Free
  • AI Teacher Tools
    • Discover Resources Search reviewed educational resources by keyword, subject, grade, type, and more
    • Curriculum Manager (My Content) Manage saved and uploaded resources and folders To Access the Curriculum Manager Sign In or Join Now
    • Browse Resource Directory Browse educational resources by subject and topic
    • Curriculum Calendar Explore curriculum resources by date
    • Lesson Planning Articles Timely and inspiring teaching ideas that you can apply in your classroom
    • Our Story
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
  • Pricing
  • School Access
    • Your school or district can sign up for Lesson Planet — with no cost to teachers
      Learn More
  • Sign In
  • Try It Free

Hi, what do you want to do?

Create a lesson plan
Create a lesson plan
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Find a teaching resource
Find a teaching resource
Total Internal Reflection InteractiveTotal Internal Reflection Interactive
Publisher
Physics Classroom
Resource Details
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Grade
9th - 12th
Subjects
Science
1 more...
Resource Type
Interactives
Audiences
For Teacher Use
1 more...
Duration
45 mins
Instructional Strategy
Simulation
Technology
Internet Access
Usage Permissions
Fine Print: Educational Use
Interactive

Total Internal Reflection

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Total Internal Reflection interactive also includes:
  • About Concept Builders
  • Total Internal Reflection
  • Total Internal Reflection: Teacher Notes
  • Total Internal Reflection: Questions
  • Join to access all included materials

Scholars work through three different activities applying their knowledge of total internal reflection (TIR). First, they simply identify which diagrams create TIR and which don't. Next, they match different types of boundary behaviors considering the angle of incidence and the critical angle. Finally, they compare two media and identify the correct diagram to achieve TIR.

26 Views 5 Downloads
CCSS: Adaptable

Concepts

reflections, the law of reflection

Additional Tags

science

Instructional Ideas

  • Discuss the advances in data transfer and sharing since the addition of optical fibers

Classroom Considerations

  • Relies on prior knowledge of the requirements for total internal reflection and the angles that lead to it
  • Works on all Internet-connected devices from personal-sized through smart boards

Pros

  • Provides immediate feedback and a help section to review material
  • Links to related labs, lessons, and modules
  • Includes all questions in PDF format, so they are accessible to everyone

Cons

  • None

Common Core

SL.9-10.2 SL.11-12.2 RST.9-10.3 RST.11-12.3

See similar resources:

Lesson Plan

Refraction B2—When is Light Reflected Internally?

Curated OER
Physics is phun in this instructional activity. Young physicists use a lightbox to test how and where light is refracted and reflected as it travels through transparent materials. Angles of incidence and refraction, sine of both...
9th - 12th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Handout

Reflection and Refraction

Curated OER
What is a prism? A place for light waves that commit minor refractions! The thorough resource includes three hands-on investigations covering light reflection and refraction; mirrors, lenses, and images; and optical systems. Subject...
9th - 12th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Video

Total Internal Reflection

DoodleScience
Demonstrate fiber optics and specifically how total internal reflection works. It covers the relationship between the angle of incidence and the critical angle, refraction, and the role of density. It concludes with other applications...
2 mins 9th - 12th Science
Unit Plan

Florida State University: Light and Color: Reflection of Light

Florida State University
An in-depth discussion on reflection of light can be found here. Among the topics discussed include are the difference between specular and diffuse reflection, concave and convex mirrors, facets, total internal reflection, and much more....
9th - 10th Science
Interactive

Law of Reflection

Physics Classroom
Reflection seems simple to understand, but without a complete understanding, pupils struggle with ray diagrams, specular versus diffuse reflection, total internal reflection, and image formation. An engaging interactive provides three...
9th - 12th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Handout

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Total Internal Reflection

Georgia State University
This physics department site provides a definition and explanation of the phenomenon of total internal reflection. Includes a diagram and an equation for calculating the critical angle for light approaching a surface.
9th - 10th Science
Lesson Plan

Reflection, Refraction & Lenses

Curated OER
Young scholars are able to describe what happens to light when it strikes different materials. They describe the law of reflection. Students are able to explain why a mirror froms a virtual image. They are able to describe diffuse...
9th - 12th Science
Activity

Laser Jello

Exploratorium
The concepts of refraction and reflection gel with your physical science class during this colorful exploration. Shining lasers through Petri-dish-shaped gelatin desserts, they will notice how the light travels and bounces off the sides....
7th - 10th Science
Unit Plan

Ck 12: Total Internal Reflection

CK-12 Foundation
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Students learn about total internal reflection. More specifically, they will learn what the critical angle is, how it is derived and how to solve for it in real life...
9th - 10th Science
eBook

The Physics Classroom: Refraction/ray Model of Light: Total Internal Reflection

Physics Classroom
Through illustrated examples, students explore the physics phenomenon of total internal reflection when light travels through several medium boundaries.
9th - 10th Science
Try It Free
© 1999-2026 Learning Explorer, Inc.
Teacher Lesson Plans, Worksheets and Resources

Sign up for the Lesson Planet Monthly Newsletter

Open Educational Resources (OER)

  • Health
  • Language Arts
  • Languages
  • Math
  • Physical Education
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Special Education
  • Visual and Performing Arts
View All Lesson Plans

Discover Resources

  • Our Review Process
  • How it Works
  • How to Search
  • Create a Collection

Manage Curriculum

  • Edit a Collection
  • Assign to Students
  • Manage My Content
Contact Us Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Use