June 2, 2011

3.20 Optical fibres

Describe the role of total internal reflection in transmitting information along optical fibre and in prisms.


because of Total internal reflection when light is sent down an optical fibre it will reflect off of the inside surface of the fibre until it reaches the end, this is a great way to transmit information at high speed because the waves travel at almost the speed of light; 300,000,000m/s; it travels slightly slower than the speed of light because of the refractive index of the optical fibre (it only travels at 300,000,000m/s in a vacuum


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  1. MattJune 6, 2011 at 4:05 PM

    "because the waves travel at the speed of light; 300,000,000m/s"
    Actually slightly less than this because of the refractive index of the optical fibre
    300,000,000m/s is the speed of light in a vacuum - it travels more slowly in other media by a factor which is equal to the refractive index of the medium

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