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{{Refimprove|date=September 2014}}
'''Total external reflection''' is an optical phenomenon where electromagnetic radiation (e.g. visible light) can, at certain angles, be ''totally'' reflected from an interface between two media of different indices of refraction (see [[Snell's law]]). [[Total internal reflection]] occurs when the first medium has a larger [[refractive index]] than the second medium, for example, light that emerges from under water. The optically denser material (water in this case) is the "internal" medium. For visible light, water has an index of refraction of 1.33 and for air it is very close to 1. For vacuum the index of refraction is exactly 1 for all wavelengths.
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