If you’re new to the world of fiber optics, you may be a little overwhelmed. There’s a lot of terminology and acronyms that can be confusing. But don’t worry, we’re here to help! This article will discuss the basics of fiber optics for beginners: what they are, how they work, and some of their applications. Without further ado, let’s get started!
What Are Fiber Optics?
Fiber optics are a type of cable that transmits light instead of electricity. Businesses and other organizations use them for telecommunication networks, high-bandwidth computer networks, and many other applications where long distances must be covered without loss due to electrical resistance or signal degradation (e.g., digital subscriber line or DSL). The first step toward understanding fiber optics is understanding light.
How Fiber Optics Work
The basic idea behind fiber optic communications is simple: light travels through an optical fiber made of glass or plastic. The light bounces off the inside walls of the material as it moves along its path. Each time the ray hits a wall, some energy from that impact gets absorbed into surrounding molecules and re-emitted as light. This intricate process can make fiber optic cables prone to malfunction if they’re not maintained properly, so many companies use fiber optic polishing equipment to keep these connections working as they should.
Applications of Fiber Optics
The most common application for fiber optics is in telecommunications. The first commercial use of fiber optics was for telephone networks in the 1970s. These days, lines made of tiny glass fibers carry almost all long-distance phone calls. Fiber optics are also used extensively by cable television providers, who deliver their service via coaxial cables that run all-around your home or business premises (and possibly even underground).
Data cables also use fiber optics. For example, many high-speed internet connections rely on fiber optic cables to transmit information at high-speed rates of up to one gigabit per second (1000 megabits).
The Benefits of Using Fiber Optics
Fiber optic cables are thinner and more flexible than copper wires, which means they can run through smaller spaces. Since it takes fewer resources to produce them, they’re also less expensive to manufacture than copper wire. Finally, fiber optics don’t suffer from electrical interference like copper cables because light doesn’t conduct electricity at all, which is an important consideration when you’re trying to send a signal over long distances.
There you have it, the basics of fiber optics for beginners! We hope this article has helped clear up some of the confusion and gives you a better understanding of fiber optics, how they work, and their many applications.
