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Light - Total Internal Reflection - Optical Fibres.
An optical fibre
is a long thin strand
of glass
which has an outer plastic coating.
Light from a laser
enters at one end of the fibre,
striking the surface of the glass
at an angle greater than the critical
angle.
Total internal
reflection occurs at the glass surface
and the light cannot escape until it reaches the other
end of the fibre.
The plastic coating prevents
the glass surface from
getting scratched,
which might allow the light to escape
through the side of the fibre.
Optical fibres are
used in endoscopes
and for telecommunications.
Headings
Waves
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Copyright © 2007 Dr. Colin France. All Rights Reserved.