Total Internal Reflection: Practice Problem & Solution

Solution Explained:

To solve this problem, we apply the core principles of Total Internal Reflection. Understanding the underlying formula is key to arriving at the correct answer below:

In Total Internal Reflection (TIR), light reflects from a denser medium into the same denser medium at the interface with a rarer medium. Reflection at a denser interface causes a \(\pi\) phase change, but in TIR, reflection from an 'optically denser medium-optically rarer medium' boundary results in no phase change in the reflected wave. Thus, (A) is true.
The reflecting surface in TIR is the interface between the denser and rarer media, not 'rarer'. Thus, (R) is false.
Therefore, (A) is true but (R) is false.