Fiber optics in a DVD player contain their light by employing total internal reflection. Designers surround the pure glass core with another type of glass, called cladding, that has a different index of refraction from the core. How should you select a cladding?

Question

Fiber optics in a DVD player contain their light by employing total internal reflection. Designers surround the pure glass core with another type of glass, called cladding, that has a different index of refraction from the core.  How should you select a cladding?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cladding must have a smaller index of refraction than the core. This creates a boundary that reflects the light back into the core, allowing it to travel along the fiber without leaking out. If the cladding had a larger index of refraction, it would allow light to escape from the core, reducing the efficiency of the fiber optic cable.

Fiber Optics in a DVD Player Contain Their Light by Employing