AP Networking Practice Test

Coaxial cable is built around a single copper conductor at the center, surrounded by a dielectric insulator, with a shielding layer (braided copper or foil) and an outer jacket. That shielding helps protect the signal from interference and keeps crosstalk down, which is why coax is described as shielded copper. It’s not the same as copper twisted-pair, and it’s not fiber optic, which uses a glass core. In terms of cost, coaxial cables typically sit between twisted-pair and fiber in price, hence “medium cost.” Wireless transmission isn’t a cable at all. So describing coaxial cable as shielded copper with medium cost fits best.