4 Network Media and Topologies Free Online FlashCards

How does copper cable carry data?

Copper cables carry data as electrical signals.

How does fiber-optic cable carry data?

Fiber-optic cable carries data as pulses of light through glass or plastic fibers and is immune to electromagnetic interference in the cable itself.

What is a key benefit and limitation of wireless networking?

Wireless networks transmit radio signals through the air, enabling mobility and flexible device placement. Performance can vary with distance, obstacles, interference, and channel sharing.

What does bandwidth describe?

Bandwidth is a link’s data-carrying capacity, commonly expressed in bits per second.

How do physical and logical topology differ?

Physical topology shows the actual layout of cables, radios, and devices. Logical topology describes how data moves or how devices share network access.

What is the defining arrangement and main failure concern of a star topology?

In a star, devices connect to a central switch or access point. An endpoint cable failure usually affects only that endpoint, while central-device failure can affect many connections.

Why are the wires in twisted-pair cable twisted?

Twisting the insulated copper wires helps reduce interference.

How does STP differ from UTP?

STP adds shielding to help protect against electrical noise; UTP lacks that added shielding and is widely used. STP is generally costlier and harder to install.

When is multimode fiber used instead of single-mode fiber?

Multimode fiber is commonly used for shorter links; single-mode fiber is suited to longer links because it confines light to a narrower path.

What is throughput?

Throughput is the data rate actually achieved. It is often below rated bandwidth because of load, signal quality, distance, or protocol overhead.

What limits a network path’s rate when its links differ in speed?

The slowest link in the path limits the path’s rate; a faster computer cannot overcome a slower switch port.

How are devices connected in a bus topology?

A bus topology connects devices along one shared main cable; a fault in that cable can disrupt the network.