Lucite Light Pipe
Purpose
Light shone into one end of a curved acrylic rod (Lumirod) travels the entire path and exits the other end via total internal reflection. Introduces critical angles and the physical basis of fiber optics.
Figure 1:
Light undergoes total internal reflection within the curved Lumirod, demonstrating how light can be guided through transparent materials even when the path curves, as long as the interface angle exceeds the critical angle.
Figure 2:
The Lumirod apparatus consists of transparent acrylic rods formed into spiral configurations of different sizes, allowing light to be guided through the curved paths via total internal reflection.
Figure 3:
When illuminated with a fiber optic light source, the Lumirods glow along their entire length, clearly showing the light path and demonstrating efficient light transmission through multiple internal reflections.