Fiber optic cables work by transmitting light pulses through a thin glass fiber. This fiber has a core, which is made of glass or plastic, surrounded by a cladding, which has a lower refractive index than the core. The light travels through the core by bouncing off the walls of the fiber at a specific angle called the critical angle. This process is known as total internal reflection. Because light travels faster than electricity, fiber optic cables can transmit data much faster than traditional copper cables.
Here are some key aspects of how fiber optic cables work:
- Total Internal Reflection: The light entering the fiber bounces off the inner wall of the fiber at an angle greater than the critical angle. This prevents light from escaping the fiber and ensures it travels through the core.
- Refractive Index: The core and cladding have different refractive indices. This difference in refractive indices causes light to bend when it passes from the core to the cladding, enabling total internal reflection.
- Data Transmission: Light pulses are modulated to represent data. Each pulse can be a '1' or a '0', forming binary code. These light pulses are then transmitted through the fiber.
- Applications: Fiber optic cables are widely used for high-speed internet, telecommunications, and other applications where fast and reliable data transmission is essential.
To understand how fiber optic cables work in more detail, you can explore these resources:
