Physics Demo Number: 054

Approximate Run Time: 5 min

Using a Coiled Plastic Tube as a Light Guide

Demo Description

One may use total internal reflection of a laser beam from a plastic-air interface to capture the beam inside a coiled plastic tube.

Scientific Principles

  • Total Internal Reflection (TIR)

  • Ray and Fiber Optics

  • Critical Angle Reflection

Equipment

  • Coiled plastic tube

  • Laser

 

Equipment Location

  • Kit (054) on [C-3-4]

  • Laser on [C-2-4]

Instructions

The coiled plastic tube is used with a laser to illustrate light beam guidance by total internal reflection , the basis for fiber optics.

There is also a commercial grade real fiber optic tube in the kit.
 
Writeup created by David A. Burba
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