Fiber can be measured in several ways depending on the context. For dietary fiber, two primary methods are used:
- Enzymic Gravimetric Method (AOAC): This method measures fiber as the weight of residual matter after enzymic treatment of the food.
- Enzymic Chemical Method: This method identifies and measures fiber from its chemical components.
For fiber optics, the most common measurement is optical power, which is measured with a power meter. This measurement is fundamental for determining loss in fiber optic cables. Other common measurements include:
- Fiber length: Measured with an OTDR (Optical Time Domain Reflectometer)
- Fiber diameter: Measured with a micrometer
- Fiber attenuation: Measured with a light source and a power meter
The specific method used for measuring fiber depends on the type of fiber, the application, and the desired accuracy.
