Fiber Optics: Sending Data Through Light Beams

Fiber optics send information as pulses of light through thin strands of glass or plastic.
Light travels inside the fiber by total internal reflection, bouncing without escaping.
A single fiber strand can carry data across continents at nearly the speed of light.
Fiber optics transmit far more data than traditional copper wires.
Internet backbones, phone lines, and cable TV all rely on fiber optic networks.
Laser diodes or LEDs generate the light signals that carry information.
Each pulse of light represents digital data—millions of 1s and 0s every second.
Undersea fiber optic cables connect continents, powering global communication.
Medical devices like endoscopes use fiber optics to see inside the human body.
Fiber optics are immune to electromagnetic interference, making them fast and reliable.