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Why Ethernet Cables Have Twisted Wires Inside

Engadget •
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The twisted wires inside ethernet cables are not a flaw but a deliberate design feature rooted in electromagnetism. When electric signals travel along copper wires, they generate magnetic fields. If two parallel wires sit side by side, these fields can interfere with each other, slowing the signal.

Twisting the wires together creates opposing magnetic fields that cancel out this interference, allowing data to travel at peak speeds. Most modern ethernet cables contain four twisted pairs of copper wires, each pair twisted at a different rate to prevent cross-talk between pairs. This design, credited to Alexander Graham Bell in the 1880s, remains the industry standard for reliable high-speed internet delivery.

Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing