Final answer:
The small size of the core in a fiber optic cable limits the paths that light can follow through the fiber, ensuring total internal reflection and minimizing signal loss.
Step-by-step explanation:
The small size of the core in a fiber optic cable limits the paths that light can follow through the fiber. The core is surrounded by a cladding material that has a lower index of refraction. This cladding prevents light from being transmitted between fibers in the cable, ensuring total internal reflection. As a result, most of the light is propagated along the length of the fiber, minimizing signal loss and allowing for a quality image to be formed at the other end.