Packet Switching, Routers and Network Communication Quiz

What key advantage does packet switching have over circuit switching in modern networks?

• It creates dedicated connections for faster data transfer
• It requires less physical infrastructure to implement
• It allows multiple communications to share network channels efficiently
• It prevents data loss during transmission

If a 15GB file needs to be transferred and each packet contains 1,500 bytes, approximately how many packets would be needed?

• 6,666,667 packets
• 10,000,667 packets
• 15,000,000 packets
• 10,000,000 packets

Why might packets from the same message take different routes through a network?

• To take advantage of the fastest available paths
• To confuse potential hackers
• To ensure data arrives in the correct order
• To reduce the size of each packet

What is the significance of latency in packet transmission?

• It determines the size of packets
• It controls the order of packet reassembly
• It measures the time taken for packets to reach their destination
• It determines the number of hops needed

Why are packets deliberately kept small?

• To reduce processing power needed
• To minimise encryption requirements
• To prevent excessive transfer times blocking other packets
• To save storage space

What problem might arise if packets were made too small?

• Data corruption would increase
• Network speed would increase
• Headers and trailers would create unnecessary overhead
• Routing would become more efficient

In what scenario would a gateway be necessary?

• When networks use different protocols
• When connecting identical networks
• When transferring small amounts of data
• When backing up data

What is the primary function of the Time To Live (TTL) field in a packet header?

• To specify delivery speed
• To determine packet size
• To synchronise transmission timing
• To prevent packets from circulating indefinitely

How does a router determine where to send a packet?

• By randomly selecting a path
• By consulting its routing table using the destination IP
• By asking other routers
• By following a pre-programmed sequence

What is the purpose of including sequence numbers in packet headers?

• To track packet size
• To measure network speed
• To identify the sender
• To assist in reassembling data in correct order