The Internet: Wires, Cables & Wifi

Code.org6 minutes read

The internet transmits information through binary code, with bits representing "on" and "off". Bandwidth and latency are crucial factors in determining the transmission capacity and speed of data flow over the internet.

Insights

  • The Internet operates through binary code, where bits represent data as either "on" or "off," forming the basis of transmitting information across various physical mediums like electricity, light, and radio waves.
  • Bandwidth, determined by bit rate, and latency, indicating the time for data travel, are essential factors in data transmission, with fiber optic cables playing a crucial role in maintaining signal integrity over long distances, unlike traditional Ethernet wires.

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Recent questions

  • How is information transmitted on the Internet?

    Through binary code represented by bits.

  • What determines the transmission capacity of a device?

    Bandwidth measured by bit rate.

  • What is latency in the context of Internet communication?

    The time taken for a bit to travel from source to destination.

  • How do fiber optic cables differ from traditional Ethernet wires?

    Fiber optic cables use light beams to transmit data.

  • How is data size measured on the Internet?

    In units like kilobytes and megabytes.

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Summary

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"Internet Transmission: Bits, Bytes, Bandwidth, Latency, Cables"

  • The Internet functions as a physical system to transmit information, represented as binary code consisting of bits, with one meaning "on" and zero meaning "off".
  • Bits are grouped into bytes, with 1000 bytes forming a kilobyte, 1000 kilobytes a megabyte, and a song typically encoded in about three to four megabytes.
  • Information on the Internet is sent as bits, with various physical mediums like electricity, light, and radio waves used to transmit binary information.
  • Bandwidth, measured by bit rate, determines the transmission capacity of a device, while latency signifies the time taken for a bit to travel from source to destination.
  • Fiber optic cables, utilizing light beams to transmit data, are crucial for long-distance communication, as they maintain signal integrity over vast distances, unlike traditional Ethernet wires.
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