An advanced computer sends information to its various parts via infrared light p

Question

An advanced computer sends information to its various parts via infrared light pulses traveling through silicon fibers (n=3.50). To acquire data from memory, the central processing unit sends a light-pulse request to the memory unit. The memory unit processes the request, then sends a data pulse back to the central processing unit. The memory unit takes 0.52 ns to process a request. If the information has to be obtained from memory in 2.10 ns , what is the maximum distance the memory unit can be from the central processing unit?

Explanation / Answer

Speed of light in silicon , v = c / n = 3x 10 8 / 3.50 = 8.57 x 10 7

let the distance between memory unit and central processing unit be d

time taken to travel 2d distance = 2.10 ns - 0.52 ns = 1.58 ns

time taken to travel d distance = 1.58 /2 = 0.79 ns

therefore d = v x 0.79 ns = 8.57 x 107 x 0.79 x 10-9 = 0.068 m

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