What could be a consequence of excessive bending of a fiber optic cable?

Excessive bending of a fiber optic cable can lead to physical damage to the cable. When a fiber optic cable is bent beyond its specified radius, it can cause the fibers inside to break or become misaligned, which may result in the signal being degraded or lost. This happens because the light traveling through the fiber needs a specified path and any sharp bends can disrupt that path.

Physical damage could manifest as micro-cracks in the glass fibers, resulting in increased attenuation and potential failure of the cable to transmit light. In more severe cases, the entire cable may need to be replaced if the bending has compromised its integrity. Therefore, proper installation practices strictly discourage sharp bends and excessive stress to maintain the performance and longevity of fiber optic systems.