What are some common causes of attenuation in fiber optic cables?

Attenuation in fiber optic cables refers to the loss of signal strength as light travels through the fiber. This phenomenon can be caused by several factors, and option B lists some of the most significant contributors.

Splices and connectors are critical points where two fiber segments are joined. Imperfect splicing or poor connector quality can lead to increased loss at those junctions due to mismatched core sizes or alignment issues, resulting in light scattering or reflection.

Bends in the fiber can also introduce attenuation. When optical fibers are bent beyond their critical radius, the light can escape from the core into the cladding, causing significant loss. This bending loss becomes increasingly significant in tight installations or poorly routed cable paths.

Absorption by the fiber material refers to the inherent properties of the glass used in fiber optics. As light travels through the fiber, some of it can be absorbed by the glass itself, which transforms the optical energy into heat. This effect contributes to the overall attenuation experienced in the cable.

Other choices, while related to fiber optics, do not directly encapsulate the primary causes of attenuation as comprehensively as option B. For instance, option A addresses external environmental factors that might affect fiber performance but are not intrinsic causes of attenuation. Option C mentions diameter