Fiber optics

HA710-2

Handout Activity: HA710

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Fiber optics
Summary
Fiber optics are long, thin strands of very pure glass about the
diameter of a human hair. They can be arranged in bundles and are
called optical cables. Light signals can be transmitted along the
cable over very long distances.
Fiber optics are long, thin strands of very pure glass about the
diameter of a human hair. They can be arranged in bundles
and are called optical cables. Light signals can be transmitted
along the cable over very long distances.
Light is transmitted along the cable, bouncing from wall to wall
along the way as it is transmitted through the cable. It can do
this because the inner wall of the optical fiber has a mirror finish.
This means the light continues to travel along the cable even
when it bends around corners.
Optical fiber can be used to transmit digital data for computers, or simply light for the purpose of lighting up dash gauges
in a vehicle.
The optical fiber is especially suited to reliably transmit a large
amount of digital data. In an automobile, optical fiber cables
could be used to replace existing copper data bus systems.
Optical fiber has several advantages over other technology. It is less expensive and thinner, it can carry much more
data then copper cables, has less signal degradation over length, and less interference. Unlike electrical signals,
light in one fiber does not interfere with light in another fiber. Optical fiber is non-flammable, lightweight and flexible.

1. It can do this because the inner wall of the optical fiber has a finish.
2. Fiber optics are long, thin strands of very pure about the diameter of a human hair.
3. They can be arranged in bundles and are called cables.

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/3

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2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers LLC

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20070817 Page