What environmental factors can affect fiber optics?

The correct answer identifies temperature changes, moisture, and physical stress as significant environmental factors that can affect fiber optics.

Temperature changes can cause expansion and contraction of the fiber material, potentially leading to increased attenuation of the light signal and impacting overall performance. These changes may also affect the connectors and splices, which can lead to misalignment or even breakage if the temperature fluctuations are drastic.

Moisture is another critical factor; water can infiltrate the protective coatings of the fiber optic cables, leading to potential signal degradation or damage. If moisture penetrates the fiber's cladding or protective sheath, it may cause issues such as increased insertion loss or even complete failure.

Physical stress refers to the mechanical pressure or bending the fiber may experience during installation or as a result of environmental conditions. Bend radii that are too tight or exerting too much pressure can result in micro-bending or macro-bending losses, which can severely impact signal integrity.

In combination, these factors demonstrate how environmental conditions can disrupt the functionality of fiber optic systems, making them crucial considerations in both design and installation processes.