← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8

Fibre optic cable

A cable that carries data as pulses of light along thin glass or plastic strands, giving very fast transfer over long distances with no electrical interference.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Wired and Wireless Networks — Module 14, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Network Communications — Module 9

Understanding Fibre optic cable in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8

What it does: Light being on or off stands for the 1s and 0s of data. This shows that fibre uses light pulses, not electricity. Light pulses are not affected by electrical interference, so the signal stays clean. Fibre can carry data very fast over long distances. Copper Ethernet signals weaken over distance. The data is sent as flashes of light, which is the key difference from copper cables. Fibre forms the internet backbone. Bluetooth is wireless and does not use cables. Fibre to the premises means the fibre cable goes all the way to the building.

Common mistakes: A fibre optic cable carries data as pulses of light, not as electric current. Line 2 should be carries ← "pulses of light". Fibre optic cables use light, so electrical interference does not affect them. Line 2 should set affectedByEMI to FALSE.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 54–68) and word search (Modules 13–68).

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Learning
Duo
How does a fibre optic cable carry data?
As pulses of light along thin glass or plastic strandsAs electrical signals along copper wires
Matches
fibre optic cable = sends electrical signals along copper wires
↓
Fibre optic cable does not use electricity or copper. It sends pulses of light along thin glass or plastic strands.
Applying
Meanings
Term
fibre optic cable
Meaning
A cable that carries data as pulses of light along thin glass or plastic strands, giving very fast transfer over long distances with no electrical interference.
Practice
SET cable TO fibre optic
Testing
Gaps
print()
Check Answer
Spots
1cable ← "fibre optic"
2carries ← "electric current"

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Quick Questions

1. How does a fibre optic cable carry data?
A. As electrical signals along copper wires
B. As pulses of light along thin glass or plastic strands ✓
Fibre optic cables use light, not electricity. The strands are very thin glass or plastic.
2. Which statement about fibre optic cables is true?
A. Electrical interference does not affect them ✓
B. Electrical interference slows them down a lot
Light pulses are not affected by electrical interference, so the signal stays clean.
3. Which type of cable is best for sending data very fast over long distances?
A. Fibre optic cable ✓
B. Ordinary copper Ethernet cable
Fibre can carry data very fast over long distances. Copper Ethernet signals weaken over distance.
4. What is the signal inside a fibre optic cable made of?
A. Pulses of electricity
B. Pulses of light ✓
The data is sent as flashes of light, which is the key difference from copper cables.
5. Where is fibre optic cable used?
A. In the internet backbone that links cities and countries ✓
B. Only inside a Bluetooth speaker
Fibre forms the internet backbone. Bluetooth is wireless and does not use cables.

Match the Pairs

fibre optic cable → A cable that sends data as pulses of light along thin strands of glass or plastic
fibre to the premises (FTTP) → A fibre optic cable that runs all the way into a home or business to give very fast internet
Fibre optic cable carries data as pulses of light instead of electricity along thin glass or plastic strands. → light_pulse = 1 # light on light_pulse = 0 # light off
Fibre optic cables are not affected by electrical interference and are used for long, very fast links such as the internet backbone. → backbone_link = "fibre" interference = False
fibre optic cable = sends electrical signals along copper wires → Fibre optic cable does not use electricity or copper. It sends pulses of light along thin glass or plastic strands.
fibre optic cable = slow, and stopped by electrical interference → Fibre optic cable is very fast over long distances and is not affected by electrical interference, because it uses light.

Key Term

fibre optic cable
A cable that carries data as pulses of light along thin glass or plastic strands, giving very fast transfer over long distances with no electrical interference.

Fill in the Blanks

1. medium = "light" print(medium)
Hint: Type the variable name that holds the thing a fibre optic cable uses to carry data.
2. interference = False if not interference: print("Fibre data stays clear")
Hint: Type the keyword that reverses a Boolean value, so the check passes when there is no electrical interference.
3. distance = 100 if distance > 50: print("Use fibre")
Hint: Type the comparison operator that means greater than, so long distances choose fibre.
4. print("Fibre carries pulses of light")
Hint: Type the built-in function name that displays text on the screen.
5. cables = ["copper", "fibre"] for cable in cables: print(cable)
Hint: Type the name of the list variable that the loop goes through, one cable type at a time.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A cable ← "fibre optic"
B carries ← "electric current"
C strand ← "thin glass"
Line B — A fibre optic cable carries data as pulses of light, not as electric current. Line 2 should be carries ← "pulses of light".
Question 2
A cable ← "fibre optic"
B affectedByEMI ← TRUE
C use ← "internet backbone"
Line B — Fibre optic cables use light, so electrical interference does not affect them. Line 2 should set affectedByEMI to FALSE.
Question 3
A IF cable = "fibre optic" THEN
B signal ← "light pulses"
C speed ← "very slow"
D END IF
Line C — Fibre optic cables are known for very high speed. Line 3 should be speed ← "very high".
Question 4
A cable ← "fibre optic"
B signal ← "light pulses"
C strand ← "copper"
Line C — The strands inside a fibre optic cable are thin glass or plastic, not copper. Line 3 should be strand ← "glass or plastic".
Question 5
A cable ← "fibre optic"
B signal ← "light pulses"
C speed ← "very high"
D use ← "Bluetooth pairing"
Line D — Fibre optic cables are used for the internet backbone and fibre to the premises. Bluetooth is a short-range wireless link. Line 4 should be use ← "internet backbone".

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