Final answer:
It's true that wood, typically an insulator, can conduct lightning when it strikes a tree, allowing it to reach Earth. Also, refraction is crucial in fiber optic cables, as it enables light signals to transmit data over long distances.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "Wood is an insulator, but lightning can travel through a tree to reach Earth" is true. Wood is usually an insulator, meaning it does not easily allow electric current to pass through. However, during a lightning strike, the immense electrical potential can cause a breakdown of this insulating property. The lightning can ionize the air and the moisture within the tree, creating a conductive pathway. As a result, the lightning can travel through the tree to reach the ground, often causing significant damage to the tree in the process.
When discussing fiber optic cables and their functionality, the statement that refraction is useful is also true. Fiber optic cables rely on the principle of refraction, which is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another with a different density. In the context of fiber optics, light signals are transmitted through the cable by being refracted repeatedly within the core, usually made of glass or plastic, enabling long-distance and high-speed data transmission.