Final answer:
When light travels through the core of an optical fiber, the cladding surrounding the core reflects the light beams. The cladding prevents light from being transmitted between fibers and ensures that the light is propagated along the length of the fiber. This interaction between the core and cladding allows for efficient transmission of light in optical fibers.
Step-by-step explanation:
When multiple beams of light travel through the core of an optical fiber, they are reflected by the cladding surrounding the core. The cladding material has a lower index of refraction than the core, which ensures total internal reflection. This means that the beams of light are completely reflected back into the core, even when the fibers are in contact with each other.
The cladding prevents light from being transmitted between fibers in a bundle and also prevents light from escaping out of the fiber. Instead, the light is propagated along the length of the fiber, minimizing signal loss and ensuring a quality image is formed at the other end of the fiber.
Overall, the cladding and the core interact to efficiently transmit and guide light through the optical fiber.