List out the advantages and disadvantages of optical fiber cable.
Advantages of optical fiber cable:
Optical fiber cables are light weight and have higher bandwidth, which means they provide a higher data transfer rate. Signals can travel longer distances through these cables. Additionally, electromagnetic noise cannot affect the cable, making it immune to interference.
Disadvantages of optical fiber cable:
The main disadvantage is that optical fibers are expensive. Another limitation is that they are unidirectional, which means two cables are required for full duplex communication.
Explanation
The answer is derived directly from the textbook description of optical fiber cables. The advantages focus on the physical and performance characteristics (light weight, higher bandwidth, longer distance capability, and immunity to electromagnetic noise). The disadvantages highlight the cost factor and the unidirectional nature requiring two cables for two-way communication. This format is appropriate for a 3-mark short answer question.