What role does cladding play in a fiber optic cable?

Cladding serves a critical function in fiber optic cables by ensuring that light travels efficiently through the core. The primary role of cladding is to reflect light back into the core through a principle known as total internal reflection. This reflection occurs because cladding has a lower refractive index than the core, allowing light that strikes the interface at a certain angle to remain confined within the core. This is essential for maintaining signal integrity over long distances, as it minimizes the loss of light and ensures that the transmitted data can travel efficiently along the fiber.

The other options do touch on aspects related to fiber optics, but they do not accurately describe the function of cladding. While cladding does contribute to the overall strength of the fiber and can help with protecting the core from physical damage and providing some insulating properties, these functions are secondary to its main role in enabling the reflection of light. Moreover, insulation against electrical interference is primarily provided by the materials surrounding the fiber optic cable rather than the cladding itself.