Demonstration of total internal refrection (TIR) using a simple laser, a clear tank, water, and a few drops of milk. (It helps to have something to make steam or dust to make the laser beam more visible.) Also includes a demonstration of getting a laser beam to flow through a pouring stream of water, called a "luminous fountain," using a hole in the tank, vinyl tape or duct tape, and a jar or bucket to catch the water.
Presentation by Jim VanKouwenberg, Optimax Systems, Inc. Video courtesy of Optimax Systems, Inc., www.OptimaxSI.com.
3:36
FIRE? IN MY WATER?
zomnomnom 2 years ago
No, it's not fire. The laser (in this case, a bright but harmless red laser beam from a helium-neon laser) is being reflected through the column of water and off the bottom of the clear beaker. The visual effect is made more striking in the video because the camera has difficulty with the brightness of the reflected laser beam.
OSAEDay2008 2 years ago