Question

Coaxial cable (typically used for cable and satellite TV) has its signal run on a copper wire surrounded by an insulator which is surrounded by the ground wire, as opposed to the typical side by side configuration.
What is the most logical reason for this?

(A) The energy held in the electric field between the inside wire and the outside wire allows for a clearer signal.
(B) The outside wire prevents any magnetic field from the inside wire from leaking out of the wire.
(C) The outside wire prevents electric fields from interfering with the signal in the inside wire.
(D) The overall resistance of the configuration is reduced using this configuration.

Answer 1

Hint:Coaxial cable is commonly used by cable operators, telephone companies, and internet providers around the world to convey data, video, and voice communications to customers. It has also been used extensively within homes.

Step by Step Solution:
Coaxial cables have been around for a long time as a technology (since the early 20th century) and have many singular advantages for reliable, accurate transmission. The key to the coaxial cable's success has been its shielded design, which allows the cable's copper core to transmit data quickly, without succumbing to interference or damage from environmental factors.

Coaxial cables are inherently free of optical beat interference and support high bandwidth levels.

Hence, we can say that coaxial cables have a copper wire surrounded by an insulator which is surrounded by the ground wire, as opposed to a typical side by side configuration because the energy held in the electric field between the inside and the outside wire allows for a clearer signal.

Thus, option (A) is the correct answer.

Note: Coaxial cables are easy to install and very durable. Because fibre has higher and faster data transfer than coax, they are best used for professional networks, such as those found within a business campus or university. If you are working on a home installation or medium-capacity data transfer network, then you'd probably be better off sticking with coaxial cable.