Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Science/2015 May 23

= May 23 =

Laminar jet as a fiber optic cable
I was just watching this video and the guy said that a laminar jet acts as a fiber optic cable to transmit light. I was wondering if a laminar jet of water could also transmit information similar to a real fiber optic cable. Malamockq (talk) 18:11, 23 May 2015 (UTC)


 * Yes. I actually had a demo of this in school myself. Looks mighty impressive in a dark room! Fgf10 (talk) 18:54, 23 May 2015 (UTC)


 * How is that 'transmitting information'? AndyTheGrump (talk) 18:57, 23 May 2015 (UTC)


 * How does a laser transmit light in an optical fibre? Exactly the same. Fgf10 (talk) 18:58, 23 May 2015 (UTC)


 * Anything where two substances with different refractive indices coming into contact presents the opportunity for total internal reflection. Once you have that, you have the possibility of making an optical transmission medium. The question then is, why would you want to use a jet of water? Water is a finite resource as it is, why would you want a transmission medium that constantly needs replenishing? --OuroborosCobra (talk) 19:08, 23 May 2015 (UTC)


 * Well yes of course, it's just a curiosity. Just because it's possible doesn't mean it's sensible. Just that Andy seemed to think it wasn't possible. Fgf10 (talk) 19:14, 23 May 2015 (UTC)


 * At no point did I suggest that transmitting information through a laminar water jet wasn't possible. Instead I asked how the example you showed transmitted information. All your video showed was light following a water jet, which the OP had already shown in the video linked in the original question. AndyTheGrump (talk) 19:42, 23 May 2015 (UTC)


 * Obviously the light can be turned on and off, therefore you can transmit 1's and 0's. That's information. StuRat (talk) 20:31, 23 May 2015 (UTC)
 * Oh that's what you meant! I thought that would be utterly obvious, as Stu described above. 82.21.7.184 (talk) 20:43, 23 May 2015 (UTC)