Dirt particles can cause scratches on polished fiber ends.

• A. False
• B. True
• C. It Depends On Fiber Type
• D. Scratches Occur Only If Adhesives Used

Answer: (B)

Dirt particles can act as tiny abrasives that scratch polished fiber ends. A smooth, well-polished endface is vulnerable to any hard, abrasive particle that can abrade the surface during polishing, seating, or mating of connectors. Those micro-scratches scatter light, increasing insertion loss and reducing return loss, and they can worsen with repeated connections. Because of that, dirt poses a real risk across common fiber types, making the statement true regardless of specific fiber coating or type. The idea that scratches only happen with adhesives isn’t correct, since mechanical abrasion from particles can occur without any adhesive involved.