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The principle of fiber optic cables is based on the concept of total internal reflection. Here's how it works:
In simple terms, fiber optic cables work by sending light signals through a glass or plastic fiber, and the light stays inside the fiber by bouncing off the walls, allowing it to travel efficiently over long distances.
- Core and Cladding: A fiber optic cable is made of a very thin strand of glass or plastic, called the core, surrounded by another layer called the cladding. The core has a higher refractive index (it bends light more) than the cladding.
- Total Internal Reflection: When light is sent into the core of the fiber optic cable at a certain angle, it reflects off the boundary between the core and the cladding without escaping. This happens because the light hits the boundary at an angle greater than the critical angle, causing the light to be reflected back into the core instead of passing through the cladding. This is called total internal reflection.
- Transmission of Light: The light continues to bounce along the length of the fiber, staying inside the core due to the internal reflections. This allows the light to travel long distances without much loss, which is why fiber optics are used for fast and high-quality data transmission (like internet, phone lines, and TV signals).
- Low Loss and High Speed: Since light travels through the fiber with minimal loss and without interference from electrical signals, fiber optic cables can transmit data over long distances with high speed and clarity.
In simple terms, fiber optic cables work by sending light signals through a glass or plastic fiber, and the light stays inside the fiber by bouncing off the walls, allowing it to travel efficiently over long distances.