Scribd
Upload
50 views3 pages

Activity 2

This document provides information and examples about calculating the time it takes to transmit files over a computer network. It defines common units of digital storage like bits, bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, and gigabytes. The key formula given is: time = size of file (in bits) ÷ network speed (in bits). Several worked examples demonstrate how to use this formula to calculate transmission times for various file sizes and network speeds.

Uploaded by

ludovica12ro
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
50 views3 pages

Activity 2

This document provides information and examples about calculating the time it takes to transmit files over a computer network. It defines common units of digital storage like bits, bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, and gigabytes. The key formula given is: time = size of file (in bits) ÷ network speed (in bits). Several worked examples demonstrate how to use this formula to calculate transmission times for various file sizes and network speeds.

Uploaded by

ludovica12ro
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

KS4 – Computer networks Learner activity sheet

Lesson 6 – Network performance and routing costs

Calculate the file transfer time


Formula .
The formula to calculate the time it will take to transmit a file is:

time = size of file (in bits) ÷ network speed (in bits)

Measurements of storage .
Byte – B –> 8 bits
Kilobyte – kB –> 1,000 bytes
Megabyte – MB –> 1,000 kilobytes
Megabit – Mb –> 1,000,000 bits (a million bits)

Note that a megabyte and a megabit are different measurements of storage. A capital B is used to signify a
byte and a lowercase b is used to represent a bit.

Worked example 2 MB at 1Mbps


Example question – How many seconds will it take to transmit 2 megabytes (MB) of data using a
network transmission speed of 1 megabit per second (Mbps)?

Step one – Convert 2MB to bits

2 MB × 1,000 = 2,000 kilobytes


2,000 Kb × 1,000 = 2,000,000 bytes
2,000,000 bytes × 8 = 16,000,000 bits

Note: You multiple by 8 to get the number of bits. There are 8 bits in a byte.

Step two – Convert 1Mb into bits

1 × 1,000,000 = 1,000,000 bits

Step three – Use the formula

Page 1 Last updated: 30-11-2021


KS4 – Computer networks Learner activity sheet
Lesson 6 – Network performance and routing costs

16,000,000 ÷ 1,000,000 = 16 seconds ✔

Task 1 All the bits


Question one – How many seconds will it take to transmit 50 bits of data using a network
transmission speed of 10 bits per second?

T= 50 bis / 10 bps = 5 sec

Question two – How many seconds will it take to transmit 1000 bits of data using a network
transmission speed of 100 bits per second?

T= 1000 bits / 100bps = 10 sec

Question three – How many seconds will it take to transmit 20,000 bits of data using a network
transmission speed of 1,000 bits per second?

T= 20000bits / 1000bps = 20 sec

time = size of file (in bits) ÷ network speed (in bits)

Byte – B –> 8 bits


Kilobyte – kB –> 1,000 bytes
Task 2 Converting from kilobytes Megabyte – MB –> 1,000 kilobytes
Megabit – Mb –> 1,000,000 bits (a million bits)
Question one – How many seconds will it take to transmit 2kB of data using a network transmission
speed of 1Mb per second?

1. 2kB= 2000 bytes


2000 bytes= 16000 bits

2. 1Mb = 1 000 000 bits

3. T= 16000 / 1 000 000 = 0.016 sec

Question two – How many seconds will it take to transmit 10kB of data using a network
transmission speed of 2Mb per second?

1. 10kB = 10 000 bytes


10 000 bytes= 80 000 bits

2. 2Mb = 2 000 000 bits

3. T= 80 000 / 2 000 000

Page 2 Last updated: 30-11-2021


KS4 – Computer networks Learner activity sheet
Lesson 6 – Network performance and routing costs

time = size of file (in bits) ÷ network speed (in bits)

Byte – B –> 8 bits


Kilobyte – kB –> 1,000 bytes
Task 3 Converting from megabytes Megabyte – MB –> 1,000 kilobytes
Megabit – Mb –> 1,000,000 bits (a million bits)
Question one – How many seconds will it take to transmit 10MB of data using a network
transmission speed of 1Mb per second?

1. 10MB = 10 000kB
10 000 kB = 10 000 000 B
10 000 000 B = 80 000 000 bits

2. 1 Mb = 1 000 000 bits

3. T = 80 000 000 / 1 000 000= 80 sec

Question two – How many seconds will it take to transmit 50MB of data using a network
transmission speed of 2Mb per second?

T = 400 000 000 / 2 000 000 = 200 sec

Explorer task Converting from gigabytes

Question – A gigabyte is equivalent to 1,000 megabytes. How many seconds will it take to transmit
2GB of data using a network transmission speed of 1,000Mb per second?

T = 16 000 000 000 / 1 000 000 000 = 16 sec


1. 2 GB = 2 000 MB
2 000 MB = 2 000 000 kB
2 000 000 kB = 2 000 000 000 B
2 000 000 000 B = 16 000 000 000 bits

2. 1 000 Mb = 1 000 000 000 bits

Resources are updated regularly — the latest version is available at: ncce.io/tcc.

This resource is licensed under the Open Government Licence, version 3. For more information on this licence, see
ncce.io/ogl.

Page 3 Last updated: 30-11-2021

You might also like