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For K-12 Students · Fiber Optics

Fiber Optics for a laser cutter

Built for k-12 students learning it in middle or high school. Watch the idea come alive with plain-language steps and everyday examples — perfect for projects and homework. Simulate a laser cutter live below — adjust the inputs and watch it respond, right in your browser.

Fiber OpticsLive

total internal reflection

Controls

Presets

Core index n₁

Cladding index n₂

Core diameter (µm)

An optical fiber traps light in a high-index core surrounded by lower-index cladding: rays hitting the boundary above the critical angle undergo total internal reflection and bounce down the fiber for kilometers. The numerical aperture sets the acceptance cone, and the core size decides whether it carries one mode (single-mode, for long-haul) or many (multimode).

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Data Inspector

Critical angle80.6°

Numerical aperture0.242

Acceptance angle14.0°

Fiber typemultimode (~423)

Governing equation

N A = n_{1}^{2} - n_{2}^{2} = 1.48 0^{2} - 1.46 0^{2} = 0.242

Reading this result: Rays steeper than the 80.6° critical angle reflect and stay trapped; here V = 29.1 allows ~423 modes, so this behaves as multimode fiber — cheap and easy to launch, but modal dispersion caps the bandwidth.

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Frequently asked questions

Is this good for k-12 students?: Yes — this version of "Fiber Optics for a laser cutter" is framed for k-12 students learning it in middle or high school. Watch the idea come alive with plain-language steps and everyday examples — perfect for projects and homework.
Do I need to install anything?: No. It runs in any modern browser, free, with no account required.