critical angle

i. The minimum angle of incidence at which a radio wave of a particular frequency can strike the ionosphere and still be reflected back to the earth. Critical angle is a function of frequency; the higher the frequency, the larger the critical angle.

If radio wave hits the ionosphere at an angle higher than critical angle, it would not be reflected back, but will pass through the ionosphere into space.

ii. The angle of attack of an airfoil at which the flow of air about the airfoil changes abruptly in such a manner that the lift is sharply reduced and the drag is sharply increased. Sometimes called stalling angle of attack.

iii. The angle at which a reflected ray of light when transmitted from a denser to a rarer medium is bent so far from the normal that it does not enter the rarer medium at all but travels parallel to the surface between the media.

iv. The angle of bank beyond which a helicopter resting on the ground on one skid or one wheel is likely to roll over in an uncontrolled manner.

At the instant of rollover of a helicopter, a moment is produced by the horizontal component of total rotor thrust about the point of ground contact of the skid. This moment is opposed by weight of the aircraft. If the angle of bank is beyond the critical angle the restoring moment is too small to stop the helicopter from rolling over.