COMMON PROPERTIES OF LIGHT

(Maxwell’s Equation and Law of

Reflection)
for GENERAL PHYSICS 2/ Grade 12
Quarter 4/ Week 2

NegOr_Q4_GenPhysics2_SLKWeek2_v2
NegOr_Q4_GenPhysics2_SLKWeek2_v2 1
 FOREWORD

This Self-Learning Kit is designed to cater your needs as STEM students

for Modular Distance Learning. It is carefully planned to holistically develop
your life-long learning skills. This serves as your guide to understand the
essence and importance of Maxwell’s equations. This will also help you relate
the properties of EM wave to the properties of vacuum and optical medium.

Moreover, included in this kit is a hands-on experiment for you to

practice your scientific skills. Good luck and enjoy learning.

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 OBJECTIVES
At the end of this SLK, you should be able to:
K: explain the essence and implications of Maxwell’s equations;
: define terms pertinent to the substantial understanding of the
law of reflection;
S: perform simple ray optics and reflection experiment; and
A: apply the law of reflection in a given scenario.

LEARNING COMPETENCIES
Relate the properties of EM wave (wavelength, frequency, speed) and
the properties of vacuum and optical medium (permittivity,
permeability, and index of refraction) (STEM_GP12OPTIVb-12).

Explain the conditions for total internal reflection (STEM_GP12OPTIVb-

14).

I. WHAT HAPPENED
PRE-TEST:

A. Directions: Choose the best word/s that correctly complete/s the

statement. Be guided by the illustration on the right. Write your answers
on your notebook/Answer Sheet.

1. Light travels (fastest, slowest) in

media with a less optical
density.
2. Light travels (fastest, slowest) in
media with a lower index of
refraction value.
3. When light passes into a
medium in which it travels
slower, the light will refract
(away from, toward) the
normal.
4. When light passes into a
medium that is less optically
dense, the light will refract
(away from, toward) the normal.

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 B. Directions: Based on the given illustration on the previous page,
provide what is asked. Write your answer on your notebook/Answer
Sheet.
• A ray of light is shown passing through three consecutive layered
materials. Observe the direction of bending at each boundary and
rank the three materials (A, B and C) in order of increasing index of
refraction.

II. WHAT I NEED TO KNOW

DISCUSSION
Maxwell’s Equations
James Clerk Maxwell described light as a propagating wave made up
of electric and magnetic fields. His work revealed that electromagnetic
radiation came from oscillating electric and magnetic fields travelling as
waves with a speed equal to the speed of light. The mathematical formula
he provided yields the values of electric and magnetic fields at all points in
space, using one’s knowledge of the sources of these fields. Recall that a
changing magnetic field indirectly yields an electric field. Similarly, a moving
electric field yields a magnetic field. The interaction between the magnetic
field and the electric field produces the electromagnetic field or EM field. This
electromagnetic field has been associated with electromagnetic (EM)
waves, in which light is a component.

Adapted from https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/electromagnetic-wave-structure-and-parameters-

vector-illustration-diagram-with-gm1194626452-340233881

Figure 1. An illustration of an electromagnetic wave

EM waves describe propagating oscillations with respect to electric

and magnetic fields. Maxwell’s wave equation shows that the speeds of the
waves depend on the combination of constants involved in electrostatics
and magnetism. His calculations led him assert that light must be an EM

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disturbance (in the form of waves) propagating through the EM field in
accordance with EM laws.

Light as an Electromagnetic Wave

An electromagnetic wave is understood to be a transverse wave
produced by a vibrating electric charge. Being a wave, an EM wave
possesses the characteristics of wavelength, frequency, and speed. The
wavelength is the measurement of the distance between the successive
crests (highest points) or troughs (lowest points) of a wave. The frequency is
the number of waves that propagate in a unit of time, which is usually in
seconds. The speed is how fast the wave is propagating. Based on the wave
equation, you have
𝑣 = 𝑓λ

In this equation, 𝑣 is the speed of the wave, 𝑓 is the frequency, and λ is

its wavelength.

Adapted from https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/waves/Lesson-1/Categories-of-Waves

Figure 2. Two kinds of waves: longitudinal and transverse

Recall that a wave can be either a transverse wave or a longitudinal

wave. A transverse wave is a wave in which the movement of the energy is
perpendicular to the movement of the particle of the wave, whereas a
longitudinal wave is a wave with the energy moving parallel to the
movement of the particle of the wave.

Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves that have the capability

of propagating even without any medium. This means an EM wave can
travel though a vacuum, unlike a sound wave that needs the molecules of a
medium to propagate from one point to another. As EM wave enter any
medium, various properties of the medium dictate how EM waves will
propagate. The most common of these properties is the index of refraction,
which you will encounter on the next module. The other two properties are
electric permittivity and magnetic permeability. Electric permittivity is related
to the energy stored in an electric field, whereas magnetic permeability is

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similar to the energy stored in a magnetic field. Their collective effect to light
(being an EM wave) is given by the equation
1
𝑐=
√𝜇0 𝜀0

In this equation, 𝑐 is the speed of light, 𝜇0 is the magnetic permeability,

and 𝜀0 is the electric permittivity. From this equation, you can infer that the
magnetic permeability and electric permittivity are inversely proportional to
the speed of light. In other words, as either the magnetic permeability or the
electric permittivity increases, the speed of light decreases. Conversely, a
decrease in the values of the constant quantities considers a higher value for
the speed of light.

Reflection of Light
When light strikes a material, it has the capacity to bounce against it or
be reflected. This phenomenon is known as the reflection of light, and it is
governed by the law of reflection, which is stated as:

“The angle if incidence (θi) is equal to the angle of reflection (θr).

Furthermore, the incident ray, the reflected ray, and the normal to the surface
all lie on the same plane”.

In Figure 3 below, the reflecting surface corresponds to any surface

where a light ray can bounce against. Mirrors are most commonly used to
represent such reflecting surfaces. The incident ray is the light ray that
approaches the reflecting surface and forms an angle with the line that is
normal or perpendicular to the surface. This formed angle is referred to as the
angle of incidence (θi). The light ray that bounces off the reflecting surface is
the reflected ray. This ray also forms an angle with the normal line, and this
angle is referred to as the angle of reflection (θr).

Retrieved from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/physics/chapter/25-2-the-law-of-reflection/

Figure 3. The Law of Reflection

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 When light is incident on a smooth surface, it produces regular
reflection. In regular reflection, the reflected rays have only one direction.
Meanwhile, diffused reflection is produced from light being incident to rough
surfaces wherein the reflected rays have varying directions (See Figure 4). To
illustrate, you are able to read because of the diffused reflection of light from
this page. This kind of reflection enables you to see objects from any direction
or position (See Figure 5).

A B

Retrieved from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/physics/chapter/25-2-the-law-of-reflection/

Figure 4. (a) Regular reflection; (b) diffused reflection

Retrieved from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/physics/chapter/25-2-the-law-of-reflection/

Figure 5. When a sheet of paper is illuminated with many parallel incident rays, it can be seen
at many different angles, because its surface is rough and diffuses the light

Total Internal Reflection

Consider sighting the long side of an isosceles triangle at a pin or other

object held behind the opposite face. When done so, an unusual
observation - a discrepant event - is observed. Figure 6 below depicts the
physical situation. A ray of light entered the face of the triangular block at a
right angle to the boundary. This ray of light passes across the boundary
without refraction since it was incident along the normal. The ray of light then
travels in a straight line through the glass until it reaches the second
boundary. Now instead of transmitting across this boundary, all of the light

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seems to reflect off the boundary and transmit out the opposite face of the
isosceles triangle.

Retrieved from https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/refrn/Lesson-3/Total-Internal-Reflection

Figure 6. The discrepant event – total internal reflection

The phenomenon observed is known as total internal reflection. Total

internal reflection, or TIR as it is intimately called, is the reflection of the total
amount of incident light at the boundary between two media.
To understand total internal reflection, we will begin with a thought
experiment. Suppose that a laser beam is submerged in a tank of water
(don't do this at home) and pointed upwards towards water-air boundary.
Then suppose that the angle at which the beam is directed upwards is slowly
altered, beginning with small angles of incidence and proceeding towards
larger and larger angles of incidence. What would be observed in such an
experiment? If we understand the principles of boundary behavior, we would
expect that we would observe both reflection and refraction. And indeed,
that is what is observed mostly. But that's not the only observation that we
could make. We would also observe that the intensity of the reflected and
refracted rays do not remain constant. At angle of incidence close to 0
degrees, most of the light energy is transmitted across the boundary and very
little of it is reflected. As the angle is increased to greater and greater angles,
we would begin to observe less refraction and more reflection. That is, as the
angle of incidence is increased, the brightness of the refracted ray decreases
and the brightness of the reflected ray increases. Finally, we would observe
that the angles of the reflection and refraction are not equal. Since the light
waves would refract away from the normal, the angle of refraction would be
greater than the angle of incidence. And if this were the case, the angle of
refraction would also be greater than the angle of reflection (since the
angles of reflection and incidence are the same). As the angle of incidence
is increased, the angle of refraction would eventually reach a 90-degree
angle. These principles are depicted in the diagram below.

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 Retrieved from https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/refrn/Lesson-3/Total-Internal-Reflection

Figure 7. Altering the angle at which the laser beam submerged in water is directed upwards

The maximum possible angle of refraction is 90-degrees. If you think

about it, you recognize that if the angle of refraction were greater than 90
degrees, then the refracted ray would lie on the incident side of the medium
- that's just not possible. So, in the case of the laser beam in the water, there is
some specific value for the angle of incidence (we'll call it the critical angle)
that yields an angle of refraction of 90-degrees. This particular value for the
angle of incidence could be calculated using Snell's Law (ni = 1.33, nr =
1.000, θr = 90 degrees, θi = ?) and would be found to be 48.6 degrees. Any
angle of incidence that is greater than 48.6 degrees would not result in
refraction. Instead, when the angles of incidence is greater than 48.6
degrees (the critical angle), all of the energy (the total energy) carried by the
incident wave to the boundary stays within the water (internal to the original
medium) and undergoes reflection off the boundary. When this happens,
total internal reflection occurs.

Two Conditions for Total Internal Reflection

Total internal reflection (TIR) is the phenomenon that involves the
reflection of all the incident light off the boundary. TIR only takes place when
both of the following two conditions are met:
1. The light is in the denser medium and approaching the less dense
medium.
2. The angle of incidence is greater than the so-called critical angle.

Total internal reflection will not take place unless the incident light is
traveling within the more optically dense medium towards the less optically
dense medium. TIR will happen for light traveling from water towards air, but it

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will not happen for light traveling from air towards water. TIR would happen
for light traveling from water towards air, but it will not happen for light
traveling from water (n=1.333) towards crown glass (n=1.52). TIR occurs
because the angle of refraction reaches a 90-degree angle before the angle
of incidence reaches a 90-degree angle. The only way for the angle of
refraction to be greater than the angle of incidence is for light to bend away
from the normal. Since light only bends away from the normal when passing
from a denser medium into a less dense medium, then this would be a
necessary condition for total internal reflection.

Total internal reflection only occurs with large angles of incidence -

larger than the critical angle. As mentioned above, the critical angle for the
water-air boundary is 48.6 degrees. So, for angles of incidence greater than
48.6-degrees, TIR occurs. But 48.6 degrees is the critical angle only for the
water-air boundary. The actual value of the critical angle is dependent upon
the two materials on either side of the boundary. For the crown glass-air
boundary, the critical angle is 41.1 degrees. For the diamond-air boundary,
the critical angle is 24.4 degrees. For the diamond-water boundary, the
critical angle is 33.4 degrees. The critical angle is different for different media.

Retrieved from https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/refrn/Lesson-3/Total-Internal-Reflection

Figure 8. A comparison between refraction and reflection

One application of total internal reflection is in the operation of optical

fibers. In an optical fiber, light remains confined within the core of simple
optical fiber because of total internal reflection from core cladding
boundary. If light hits the boundary of a material of lower refractive index at a
steep enough angle, it cannot get out and it is reflected back into the high
index medium.

An optical fiber is a thin rod of high-quality glass (See Figure 9). Very
little is absorbed by the glass. Optical fibers can carry more information than

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an ordinary cable of the same thickness. The signals in optical fibers do not
weaken as much over long distances as the signals in ordinary cables.

Optical fibers are found in decorative lamps, glass fibers (used for
communication technologies), and endoscopes (used to view human body’s
internal organs.

Retrieved from https://byjus.com/physics/what-is-optical-fiber/

Figure 9. An optical fiber

Performance Task:

Hands-on Experiment on Reflection

Directions: Perform the experiment below. After which, answer the guide
questions that follow.

Objective: Perform a simple ray optics and reflection experiment.

Materials:
• Bond paper
• Pen
• Ruler
• Protractor
• Mirror
• Push pin
• Graphing paper

Procedure:
a. Prepare the experimental set-up. In a sheet of bond paper, use a dark
pen to draw a straight horizontal line and a line perpendicular to it.
Designate the intersection point as A.

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 b. Arbitrarily choose a location on the left side of the perpendicular line
and push a pin. Designate the position of the pin as point B. Draw a
straight-line connecting points A and B.
c. Position the mirror center at A such that the mirror’s surface is parallel to
the horizontal line.
d. Position yourself on the right-hand side of the perpendicular line and
locate point C. Put a pin on that location such that the line BA and line
AC are perpendicular to each other.
e. Using a protractor measure the angle subtended by line AB to the
perpendicular line. This will be called the incident angle, θi.
f. Using a protractor measure the angle subtended by line AC to the
perpendicular line. This will be called the reflection angle, θi.
g. Repeat steps a-f for five (5) different locations of point B and
their corresponding point C.
2. Plot each on a graphing paper. The expected result is as follows:

(never mind the numbers indicated herein)

Retrieved from https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/refrn/Lesson-3/Total-Internal-Reflection

Figure 10. The angle of incidence vs the angle of reflection

Guide Questions:
1. What is the relationship between θr and θi.?
2. Create a report detailing your results.

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III. WHAT I HAVE LEARNED
EVALUATION/POST-TEST
Multiple Choice: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write it in your
notebook/Answer Sheet.
1. It is the measurement of the distance between the successive crests or
troughs of a wave.
a. wavelength b. frequency c. speed
2. A kind of wave where the movement of the energy is perpendicular to
the movement of the particle of the wave.
a. transverse b. longitudinal c. both a and b
3. As EM waves enters any medium, various properties of the medium
dictate how EM waves will propagate. This property is related to the
energy stored in an electric field.
a. Electric permittivity c. index of refraction
b. magnetic permeability
4. EM waves are transverse waves that have the capability of
propagating even without a medium. This statement means __________.
a. EM wave can travel through a vacuum.
b. EM wave cannot travel through vacuum.
c. EM wave needs the molecules of a medium to propagate from one
point to another.
5. All the following are implications of Maxwell’s equations except one.
Which is it?
a. It provides an important link among the concepts of electricity,
magnetism and light.
b. It explains how light behaves as it propagates.
c. It shows that the speeds of the waves do not depend on the
combination of constants involved in electrostatics and magnetism.
6. When a ray of light enters from denser medium to rare medium, it
bends ______________.
a. towards normal
b. away from normal
c. perpendicular to normal
7. The outer concentric shell in fiber optic is called _____________.
a. Cladding b. core c. coat
8. The entire light is reflected into the denser medium, which is called total
_____________.
a. Internal reflection of light
b. External reflection of light
c. Internal refraction of light
9. The critical angle for water-air boundary is _______________ degrees.
a. 46.8 b. 48.6 c. 46.6

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 10. The diagram shows total internal reflection. Which of the following
statements is not true?

a. Angle AON is the angle of incidence.

b. Angle AON = angle BON
c. Angle AON must be the critical angle.
11. For total internal reflection to occur, two conditions must be met
except _________.
a. The index of refraction must decrease across the boundary in the
direction of light refraction.
b. The angle if incidence of the light ray must not exceed the critical
angle of the interface.
c. The light is in the less dense medium and approaching the denser
medium.
12. Which of the following phenomena takes place inside an optical fiber?
a. Reflection b. total internal reflection c. dispersion
13. Light is confined within the core of a simple optical fiber by ___________.
a. Total internal reflection at the edge of the cladding.
b. Reflection from the fiber’s plastic coating.
c. Total internal reflection at the core cladding boundary.

For numbers 14-15, refer to the diagram below.

14. Which of the angles is the angle of incidence?

a. A b. B c. C
15. Which of the angles is the angle of reflection?
a. A b. B c. C

NegOr_Q4_GenPhysics2_SLKWeek2_v2
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 REFERENCES

Electromagnetic Waves. Retrieved from

https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/electromagnetic-wave-
structure-and-parameters-vector-illustration-diagram-with-
gm1194626452-340233881

David, Oliver M. General Physics 2. Makati City, Philippines: DIWA

Learning Systems Inc., 2017.

Physics Tutorial: Total Internal Reflection. Retrieved from

https:/www.physicsclassroom.com/class/refrn/Lesson-3/Total-
Internal-Reflection

The Law of Reflection⃒ Physics. Retrieved from

https://courses.lumenlearnng.com/physics/chapter/25-2-the-
law-of-reflection/

Test: Total Internal Reflection ⃒ 10 Questions MCQ Test. Retrieved from

https://edurev.in/course/quiz/attempy/-1_Test-Total-Internal-
Reflection/7674cfce-a4d6-4191-810c-885f042fca08

Total Internal Reflection. Retrieved from

https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/refrn/Lesson-3/Total-
Internal-Reflection

What is Optical Fiber? – Definition and Types of Optical Fiber. Retrieved

from https://byjus.com/physics/what-is-optical-fiber/

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 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF NEGROS ORIENTAL

SENEN PRISCILLO P. PAULIN, CESO V

Schools Division Superintendent

JOELYZA M. ARCILLA EdD

OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

MARCELO K. PALISPIS EdD JD

OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

NILITA L. RAGAY EdD

OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent/CID Chief

ROSELA R. ABIERA
Education Program Supervisor – (LRMDS)

ARNOLD R. JUNGCO
PSDS-Division Science Coordinator

MARICEL S. RASID
Librarian II (LRMDS)

ELMAR L. CABRERA
PDO II (LRMDS)

JIMMA C. PORSUELO
ROWENA R. DINOKOT
Writers
STEPHEN C. BALDADO
Lay-out Artist
_________________________________________
ALPHA QA TEAM
JOSE MARI B. ACABAL
MA. MICHELROSE G. BALDADO
GENEVA FAYE L. MENDOZA

BETA QA TEAM
ARNOLD ACADEMIA CHRISTINE A. GARSOLA
ZENAIDA A. ACADEMIA GENEVA FAYE L. MENDOZA
ALLAN Z. ALBERTO VICENTE B. MONGCOPA
EUFRATES G. ANSOK JR. LESTER C. PABALINAS
ADELINE FE D. DIMAANO FLORENTINA P. PASAJENGUE
ROWENA R. DINOKOT
DISCLAIMER

The information, activities and assessments used in this material are designed to provide
accessible learning modality to the teachers and learners of the Division of Negros Oriental. The
contents of this module are carefully researched, chosen, and evaluated to comply with the set
learning competencies. The writers and evaluator were clearly instructed to give credits to information
and illustrations used to substantiate this material. All content is subject to copyright and may not be
reproduced in any form without expressed written consent from the division.
NegOr_Q4_GenPhysics2_SLKWeek2_v2
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SYNOPSIS AND ABOUT THE AUTHORS

ANSWER KEY
Electricity, magnetism, and light are
interrelated concepts by virtue of the
analysis that gave rise to Maxwell’s 15. C
equations. The continuous vibration of a 14. B
charge yields a magnetic field that
13. C
12. B
eventually yields an electric field. This 11. C
alternate production goes on for as long as 10. C

the charge is vibrating, resulting in the

9. B
8. A
propagation of electromagnetic waves. 7. A

Visible light is a form of an electromagnetic

6. B
5. C
wave. 4. A
3. A
2. A
Total internal reflection or TIR as it is 1. A

intimately called is the reflection of the total

Evaluation/Post-test:

amount of incident light at the boundary B, C, A

between two media. The conditions for total

B.

internal reflection are: the light is travelling Toward 4.

from an optically denser medium (higher

Away from 3.
Fastest 2.
refractive index) to an optically less dense Fastest 1.

medium (lower refractive index) and that

A.
Pre-Test:
the angle of incidence is greater than the
critical angle.

Jimma C. Porsuelo obtained her Master of Arts In

Education major in General Science at Central Philippine
State University- San Carlos City (2018) and her BSEd -General
Science at Philippine Normal University-Visayas in 2008.
Currently, she is a Senior High Shool teacher of JBCMHS-Main
Campus teaching Science and Research subjects.

Rowena R. Dinokot graduated Bachelor of Secondary

Education – Major in Biology at Jose Rizal Memorial State
College, Katipunan Campus, Katipunan, Zamboanga del
Norte last 2008. She also finished the degree Master of Arts in
Education major in Administration and Supervision at
Foundation University, Dumaguete City last 2018. Presently, she
is teaching at Demetrio L. Alviola National High School (SHS
Department) as Class Adviser of XII-STEM where she handled
Sciences and Research.

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