ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 Definitions Worksheet: Wired and Wireless Networks (Modules 54–68)
Name:
Date:
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Key terms
Write what each term means, in your own words.
1
Ethernet cable
2
fibre optic cable
3
attenuation
4
Wi-Fi
5
mobile network
6
latency
7
wired speed
8
reliability
9
wireless security
10
cost and installation
Answer Key
ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 · Modules 54–68 · Student wording will vary for definitions
1Ethernet cable — A cable with an RJ45 plug that carries data as electrical signals along twisted pairs of copper wire between a device and a switch or router.
2fibre optic cable — A cable that carries data as pulses of light along thin glass or plastic strands, giving very fast transfer over long distances with no electrical interference.
3attenuation — The weakening of a signal as it travels along a cable. Copper cables have a length limit because of it, while fibre can go much further. Repeaters boost the signal.
4Wi-Fi — A wireless network technology that uses radio waves to connect devices to a router or access point, usually by joining a network name and password on the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz band.
5mobile network — A network that sends data by radio between a device and a nearby phone tower (cell), so it works over wide areas without Wi-Fi.
6latency — The delay between sending data and it arriving, measured in milliseconds (ms). It is not the same as bandwidth, which is how much data can be sent at once. Low latency feels fast.
7wired speed — Wired connections are usually faster and steadier than wireless, because the signal travels in its own cable and is not shared through the air.
8reliability — How steadily a connection stays working. Wired is usually more reliable as interference affects it less, while wireless signals can drop out.
9wireless security — Wired data stays in the cable, but wireless signals travel through the air where anyone in range can try to pick them up, so they need a password and encryption.
10cost and installation — Wired networks need cables, ports and installation work, while wireless needs less cabling but may need more access points to cover a large area.