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Grade 12General Physics

Can we store light energy by using the concept of total internal reflection, as in case of diamond?

eg. cutting diamond in such angle on its edges as to when light enters at a specific angle, it gets totally internally reflected for some time, giving us temporary storage

Profile image of Palash  Agarwal
12 Years agoGrade 12
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1 Answer

Profile image of Sumit Majumdar
ApprovedApproved Tutor Answer12 Years ago

Dear student,

You can store light only as a temporary basis in a Diamond, till the light either comes out of the Diamond (when it makes an angle of incidence from Diamond to air equal to 24.40). This is the reason, when the stored light makes this angle of incidence and comes out of the diamond, it makes the diamond sparkle.

Hope this answers your question.

Thanks & Regards
Sumit Majumdar, 
askIITians Faculty
Ph.D, IIT Delhi