fiber+optics

Fiber Optics Fiber optics are starting to replace copper wires for communication transmittion. Copper wire transmits messages by going through copper lines, while fiber optics uses light to transmits through fiber lines. They are used for phone and network systems. "This principle of total internal reflection states that when the angle of incidence exceeds a critical value, light cannot get out of the glass; instead, the light bounces back in. When this principle is applied to the construction of the fiber-optic strand, it is possible to transmit information down fiber lines in the form of light pulses..." ([|www.arcelect.com]). There are 3 types of Fiber Optics Singe mode- one line of light Mutimode- multiple lines of light
 * single mode: single strand of glass fiber, transmits more than multimode, but it requires light with a small spectrum and it costs more than multimode
 * multimode: two fiber strands, the light waves disperse in the cable, it costs less than single mode