What does the term 'fibre optic' specifically refer to?

The term 'fibre optic' specifically refers to a transmission medium that utilizes light to transmit data through thin strands of glass or plastic. This technology relies on the principle of total internal reflection, where light signals can travel over long distances with minimal loss and high bandwidth capacity.

Fibre optic communication systems are widely used for internet and telecommunications, offering advantages such as higher speeds and the ability to transmit data over greater distances without the interference that typically affects electronic signals in copper wires.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe fibre optics. For instance, copper wire does not utilize light for data transmission; it relies on electrical signals. Additionally, transmitting data using sound does not pertain to fibre optics, which is focused on optical signals. Finally, fibre optics is fundamentally a wired technology rather than a wireless communication method, which would involve different mechanisms and technologies entirely, such as radio waves.