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Year 7

Wired and wireless networks

I can compare the performance of different types of network connections.

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New
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Year 7

Wired and wireless networks

I can compare the performance of different types of network connections.

Download all resources
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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Wired and wireless networks have different advantages and disadvantages, making them suitable for different situations.
  2. Bandwidth determines how much data can be sent at a time, affecting the overall time taken to complete a transfer.
  3. Different online activities require different amounts data be transfered.
  4. Different mobile data technologies provide varying levels of bandwidth, which affects the quality of network activities.

Keywords

  • Wired - uses a cable to connect a device to a network

  • Wireless - uses radio waves to connect a device to a network

  • Bandwidth - the maximum amount of data that can be transmitted at a time

Common misconception

Bandwidth is the speed of data being transmitted across a network. The higher the bandwidth, the faster data can be transferred between points in a network.

Bandwidth is the maximum amount of data that can be transmitted at a time, not the time it takes to reach from one point to another. Higher bandwidth reduces the total transfer time of data but this is only noticable when there is a lot to transfer.

You may want to use an analogy of motorway lanes for bandwidth. More lanes mean more cars can travel side by side without traffic jams. Higher bandwidth is like having more lanes on your internet connection.
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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following is a reason why protocols are important in computer networks?
They make data travel faster.
Correct answer: They ensure data is sent to the correct device in the correct format.
They prevent users from making mistakes.
They allow devices to connect to any network in the world.
Q2.
Which of the following is a valid IP address format?
Correct answer: 192.168.25.1
192-168-25-1
192.168.25
192.168.25.256
Q3.
Which of the following is an example of a rule used for email addresses?
Correct answer: the requirement for an "@" symbol in an email address
the use of a password to protect an email account
the ability to attach files to an email
the option to forward an email to someone else
Q4.
What could happen if an email is sent without a valid email address?
The email will be delivered to everyone on the network.
The email will be delivered to the sender's inbox.
Correct answer: The email will not be delivered, and the sender might receive an error message.
The email will be delivered to a random person.
Q5.
What could happen if a website address doesn't follow the correct protocol and is missing http:// or https://?
Correct answer: The web page might not load correctly.
The website will be slower to load.
The user will be unable to access the internet.
The user's computer might be infected with a virus.
Q6.
What is the main difference between http:// and https:// in a website address?
https:// is used for secure email addresses.
Correct answer: https:// indicates a secure connection between your browser and a website.
https:// is used for websites with images and videos.
There is no difference.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
If you want a more secure and stable connection for online gaming, what would you use?
wireless connection
Correct answer: wired connection
Bluetooth connection
Q2.
What does it mean when an online video is "buffering"?
The video is being downloaded too quickly.
The video is being processed too slowly.
Correct answer: There is not enough bandwidth when connecting to the internet.
The video file is corrupted.
Q3.
Which of the following online activities typically requires the highest bandwidth?
reading an online news article
checking the weather forecast
Correct answer: playing a multiplayer online game
sending an email
Q4.
Which of these is a disadvantage of wireless networks?
higher bandwidth
more secure
Correct answer: lower bandwidth
no trailing wires
Q5.
What is bandwidth?
the speed at which data travels
Correct answer: the amount of data that can be transferred in a given time
the strength of a wireless signal
the number of devices on a network
Q6.
Which unit is used to measure bandwidth?
meters per second (m/s)
Correct answer: bits per second (bps)
hertz (Hz)
bytes per meter (B/m)