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What is a fiber optic cable?

A fiber optic cable is a cable composed of several very thin, transparent strands of coated glass fibers. The glass fibers are arranged around a central, hard wire in a core tube. The core tube is surrounded by a number of protective layers, usually including copper, aluminum foil, and steel wire. The entire cable is encased in a polyethylene housing.

Fiber optic cables are used to transmit voice, images, and data in the form of reflected light. Bursts of light are emitted by lasers or electrodes and travel through the cable by a process called "total internal reflection." Light zigzags inside the glass core; the pattern of light waves forms a code that carries a message. At the receiving end the light beams are converted into an electric current and decoded.

Glass fibers can transmit messages or images over distances of up to 13,000 miles (20,917 kilometers) without significant...

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