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UPSC 1996: Total internal reflection can take place when light travels from
(a)diamond to glass
(b)water to glass
(c)air to water
(d)air to glass
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Not attemptedCorrect Answer: (a) diamond to glass
Total internal reflection occurs when light travels from an optically denser to a rarer medium with incidence angle above the critical angle. Of the pairs listed, only diamond (n≈2.42) to glass (n≈1.5) satisfies ‘denser → rarer’; the other options go from a rarer to a denser medium, so TIR cannot occur. ([scribd.com](https://www.scribd.com/document/731910047/1996))
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct answer to this UPSC 1996 Science & Technology question?▼
The correct answer is option (a): diamond to glass. Watch the detailed video explanation in our Sherlocking Prelims course on UnlockIAS.
Which year was this Physics question asked in UPSC Prelims?▼
This question was asked in UPSC CSE Prelims 1996, GS Paper 1, as Question 120. It falls under Science & Technology > Physics.
What is the difficulty level of this UPSC question?▼
This question is rated "easy". It tests basic recall and most well-prepared aspirants should answer it correctly.
How many UPSC Prelims questions have been asked from Physics?▼
UPSC has asked 104 questions from Physics (under Science & Technology) across multiple years. Visit the topic page to see the full list and year-wise trends.