Your task is to answer the following questions:

3b Question 1a
What are fibre optics and give a short description of how they
work? A diagram may be useful.

Fibre optics is really thin glass as thin

as human hair that can carry digital
information long distances.

5d Question 1b
Describe how an understanding of total internal reflection has
helped scientists to develop endoscope and phones

It has helped because it enables scientists to

check our body. The tube bends so the light has
 to reflect on the inside of the tube because light
only travels in straight lines.

Question 2
Two uses for fibre optics is communication and endoscopes
For each use answer these questions
4b Question 2a USE: communication
Describe what it is replacing

Copper wires

3c Question 2b
4c Show how this new technique is an improvement over existing
6b techniques.
6d

They use fibre optics because they can bend so it

is easier and quicker to communicate with people
around the world.

4a Question 2c
5c Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this use for fibre
6d optics

The advantages are that the phone calls are

clearer and it gets around the world faster than
copper wires.

5a Question 2d
What might the people using this technique think about it? Give
reasons to back up your ideas. Why good or bad?
It provides clearer phone calls and faster to connect
 Clearer phone call
Quicker to connect with people

6a Question 2e
6b Has the technique made an impact on life in other countries?
Yes it will make it easier for people in other
countries to connect with people in the uk if
necessary.

Question 2
Two uses for fibre optics is communication and endoscopes
For each use answer these questions
4b Question 2a USE: Endoscopes
Describe what it is replacing

It stops doctors having to cut people up to see

inside them. It also means less skilled staff can
carryout the operations.It will also make the
operations shorter

3c Question 2b
4c Show how this new technique is an improvement over existing
6b techniques.
6d
With fibre optics it means you don’t have to cut
people and not all patients like to be cut up
because that leaves scares. Also it will stop the
risk of infection in the cuts.
 3 AF2
Understanding the applications and implications of science
To reach this level I could have:
4a Question 2c
5c a
Describe described some uses
the advantages of fibre optics. of this use for fibre
and disadvantages
6d optics
b stated that information can be carried from place to place using light
reflections.
You can see inside people without having to cut
c explained that using light to carry speech when we use a telephone
them up.It also
has improved makes
the quality theweoperations
of what hear. shorter
4. AF2
Understanding the applications and implications of science
To reach this level I could have:
a described some of the improvements that there have been in
5a Question 2ddue to the development of fibre optics as well as any drawbacks,
medicine
What
e.g.might the people
investment in newusing this technique think about it? Give
technologies.
reasons
b to back up that
explained yourfibre
ideas. Why
optics good
are or bad?
replacing copper wires.
Good
c because
described it
thewill make
use of surgery
fibre optics to lookainside
lot more
people without cutting
easier and cleaner and quicker
them open.
5 AF2
Understanding the applications and implications of science
To reach this level I could have:
6a Question
a 2e
explained why healthcare staff like endoscopes, e.g. they are quick
6b Has the technique made
to use, but some an may
patients impact
be on life ine.g.
worried, other countries?
having to swallow an
endoscope.
It makes the operations a lot less complicated
b described how the development of endoscopes has affected
anddoctors, e.g.stop
it will the less
retraining, spread
surgicaloftime
infection when
needed; and youe.g. faster
patients,
have to cut someone up.Also for poorer countries
recovery, better to use in parts of the world where infection is difficult to
control.
it cis notexplained
as expensive.
why the use of fibre optics has improved survival rate of
operations, but sometimes the use of an endoscope can cause its own
complications.
d described how an understanding of total internal reflection helped
scientists to develop endoscopes.
6 AF2
Understanding the applications and implications of science
To reach this level I could have:
a described how fibre optics have made a significant impact in more
Task 23 Bending
developed countries.light 2 – Level ladder
b explained how the installation of fibre optic cables affects the people
living in those countries, e.g. clearer phone calls, faster data transfer
allowing faster trading; and the companies that make the cables, e.g.
making more profit.
c explained how the development of fibre optics has lead to
developments in glass making.
d described the benefits to patients of fibre optic investigations compared to

surgery
Task 23 Bending light