Idea: Use ping utility to measure transit times in a 'category 5' network cable between two computers.

What the student learns:

1. 1    The speed of transmission in a cable is about 2/3 the speed of light
2. 2    Ping as a useful tool for network analysis
3. 3    Practice graphing and slope determination/linear data fitting
4. 4    That noise can sometimes help you make a measurement!

• Simple to do
• Cheap
• Dual use
• Class period
• Simple to analyze

• You can't see it with your eyes: Connection to light is abstract
• Have to analyze data to see effect

 

 

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