Fiber+Optics+-+Allison+S.

Allison Schneider 3.30.2010

How Fiber Optics Work: For example, fiber optics are commonly found in TV cables, telephone systems, and with the internet. This happens throught fiber optic lines that are made of optically pure glass, which is as thin as human hair, and can carry digital information over long distances. These strands are arranged in bundles, called optical cables, and are used to transmit light. Hundreds of thousands of these fibers are bundled together to create optical cables (what you would see portruding from a computer or within a TV set). Each fiber has three parts: the core, the cladding, and the buffer coating. The core is the thin glass in the fiber where the light will travel. The cladding is the optical material surrounding the core that reflects the light back into the core. The buffer coating is a plastic coating that protects the fiber from moisture and damage.

The light in a fiber optic cable travels through the core and is constantly bouncing off the cladding, creating **Total Internal Reflection**. Since the cladding will not absorb any light from the core, the light is able to travel great distances.