Definition of optical fiber Optical fiber
We found 2 definitions of optical fiber from 2 different sources.
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What does optical fiber mean?
WordNet
Noun |
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| optical fiber - a very thin fiber made of glass that functions as a waveguide for light; used in bundles to transmit images | ||
| glass fiber, optical fibre, glass fibre | ||
| fibre, fiber a leatherlike material made by compressing layers of paper or cloth | ||
| fiber optic cable, fibre optic cable a cable made of optical fibers that can transmit large amounts of information at the speed of light | ||
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Wikipedia 
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An optical fiber is a thin string or fiber for taking light from one end to the other. It is usually made of glass or plastic. The study of optical fibers is called fiber optics, which is part of applied science and engineering.
Optical fibers are mainly used in telecommunications, but they are also used for lighting, sensors, and special cameras for seeing inside small spaces.
How it works.
An optical fiber is a long, thin strand of clear material. Its shape is usually similar to a cylinder. In the center, it has a "core". Around the core is a layer called the "cladding". The core and cladding are made of different kinds of glass or plastic, so that light travels slower in the core than it does in the cladding. If the light in the core hits the edge of the cladding at a shallow angle, it bounces off. Light can travel inside the core and bounce off of the cladding. No light escapes until it comes to the end of the fiber, unless the fiber is bent or stretched.
If the cladding of the fiber is scratched, it may break. A plastic coating called the "buffer" covers the cladding to protect it. Often, the buffered fiber is put inside an even tougher layer, called the "jacket". This makes it easy to use the fiber without breaking it.
Uses.
The main use of optical fiber is in long-distance communication (telecommunication). Since the light does not leak out of the fiber much as it travels, the light can go a long distance before the signal gets too weak. This is used to send telephone
