An arctic astronomical observatory located on a high-altitude polar plateau must be connected to a coastal base station via a new 40 km land-based communication link. This link is required to transmit massive volumes of ultra-high-resolution astronomical imagery, real-time sensor telemetry, and highly confidential satellite-tracking data.
The polar environment is subject to extreme sub-zero temperatures, shifting permafrost, and severe geomagnetic and auroral interference.
The engineering team is deciding between installing an optical fiber system or a high-grade copper-wire cable network.
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of these two transmission media for use in this polar communication link, and state which option you would recommend.
For both types of cabling, your comparison must address:
22 exam-style questions on AQA A Level Physics Data communication systems (A-level only), covering Principles of communication systems (A-level only), Transmission media (A-level only), Time-division multiplexing (A-level only), and Amplitude (AM) and frequency modulation (FM) techniques (A-level only). Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.