Unit 2

Question 1

Give examples of wired methods of communication

Answer 1

HDMI
Ethernet
USB

Question 2

Give advantages of using a wired method to connect to a smart phone

Answer 2

Higher bandwidth
Lower latency
More secure

Question 3

Give examples of wireless methods of communication

Answer 3

Wi-Fi
Bluetooth
Infra-red
NFC

Question 4

Give advantages of using a wireless method to connect to a smart phone

Answer 4

Can move around
Cheaper - no cost of cables
Health & safety - no trailing wires

Question 5

What is a LAN?

Answer 5

Local area network - network which has a small geographical area

Question 6

Give advantages of LANs

Answer 6

Allows centralised management
Allows users to share resources
Allows users to collaborate and share files

Question 7

What is a WAN?

Answer 7

Wide area network - collection of LANs joined together with a large geographical area (e.g. internet)

Question 8

What is a PAN?

Answer 8

Personal area network - used for transmission of data between devices in close proximity

Question 9

What is tethering?

Answer 9

When a host device shares its internet connection with other devices

Question 10

What is GPS?

Answer 10

Global positioning system - satellite system used to track the exact location of an object

Question 11

What is infra-red?

Answer 11

Wireless communication method used to transfer very small amounts of data to a device in a direct line of sight

Question 12

What is NFC?

Answer 12

Allows communication between 2 devices in very close proximity - can be passive or active

Question 13

What is an IP address?

Answer 13

A unique identifier given to devices to communicate over a WAN (e.g. the internet)

Question 14

Can an IP address of a device change?

Answer 14

Yes

Question 15

What is a MAC address?

Answer 15

Universally unique identifier given to devices which communicate over a LAN

Question 16

Can a MAC address of a device change?

Answer 16

No they are static and can never change

Question 17

Describe 2 differences between an IP and a MAC address

Answer 17

IP address can change - MAC address is static (1)
IP address is used to communicate on a WAN - MAC address is used to communicate on a LAN (1)

Question 18

What is a wireless access point (WAP)?

Answer 18

WAP allows wireless devices to connect to the LAN

Question 19

What is a router?

Answer 19

Responsible for routing data packets between different networks

Question 20

What is a gateway?

Answer 20

Device that bridges the connection between 2 different forms of network

Question 21

What is a switch?

Answer 21

Allows multiple wired devices to connect to a LAN

Question 22

What is a booster?

Answer 22

Device used to amplify a network signal

Question 23

What is a server?

Answer 23

A dedicated computer that shares its resources with devices that connect to it

Question 24

State 3 tasks of a router

Answer 24

Receive packets
Send packets
Assign IP addresses to devices

Question 25

What is an internet service provider (ISP)?

Answer 25

A company that provides access to the internet

Question 26

What are search engines?

Answer 26

Tools that locate and display web pages

Question 27

What is filter software?

Answer 27

Uses 2 lists stored in a database to allow or block access to websites (whitelist & blacklist)

Question 28

What are benefits of a LAN?

Answer 28

Users can share peripherals Shared access to the internet Users can easily share files and folders

Question 29

What are drawbacks of a LAN?

Answer 29

Increased security risk to data Risk of malware

Question 30

What is bandwidth?

Answer 30

The amount of data that can be carried by a connection in one second

Question 31

What is latency?

Answer 31

The delay between data being sent and received

Question 32

What other factors can affect the speed & volume of data transfer?

Answer 32

Interference Transfer method (wired/ wireless) Blockages Distance

Question 33

What is fibre optic?

Answer 33

Type of cable that uses light to transmit data on a WAN

Question 34

Describe how high latency can affect the experience of making a video call

Answer 34

Increases time it takes for data to be transferred between devices (1) meaning the video is delayed (2)

Question 35

What is a firewall?

Answer 35

A barrier between a network and the internet - prevents unwanted traffic entering a network

Question 36

What is encryption?

Answer 36

Method of scrambling data so that unauthorised users cannot understand it

Question 37

What are the 2 methods of encryption?

Answer 37

Symmetric Public key

Question 38

What is a WEP?

Answer 38

Wireless encryption protocol - method of encrypting data transmitted on a wireless network

Question 39

What is a WPA?

Answer 39

Wi-fi protected access - a more secure method of encrypting data on a wireless network

Question 40

What is a VPN?

Answer 40

Virtual private networks - allows users to remotely connect to private LANs