What is Internet: History of Internet, Types of Computer Networks, How does Internet Work?

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Internet or interconnected web is a global system of interconnected computer networks. These computer networks use Internet Protocol Suite (TCP/IP) to link to billions of devices around the world. The increasing popularity of the internet has led to the emergence of services like internet phones and the internet, affecting traditional communication methods like tv and newspapers.

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Table of Content

Brief History of Internet
How does Internet Work?
Types of Computer Networks
Advantages of Internet
Things to Remember
Sample Questions

Keywords: Internet, History, ARPANET, LAN, WAN, Internet Protocol, Client, Server, Data, Data Transfer, Computers, Connectivity, Network, Connection

Brief History of Internet

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Internet began as research into package switching technology in the 1960s. Package switching was thought to be a superior method for transferring data compared to the circuitry. It was speedier and more reliable.

Package switching technology was essential to the development of ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), the first known group of interconnected computers. The ARPANET was intended to be used as a communication system for the Defence Team of the United States of America. It was a network said to be able to survive even a nuclear attack.

History of Internet

History of Internet

The ARPANET eventually became a successful nationwide experimental packet network and was opened to educational institutions all over the US. This allowed the educational institutions access to the government’s supercomputer, first at 56 kbit/s, then at 1.5 Mbit/s, and then at 45 Mbit/s.

The basics of hypertext were first introduced by Vannevar Bush in 1945. 1989 and 1991 saw the development of the World Wide Web, the defining of HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol), HTML (HyperText Markup Language) used to create web pages, and URLs (Universal Resource Locators). All the developments were thanks to Tim Berners-Lee, also known as the father of the internet.

The creation of the architecture of the internet is credited to Robert Kahn and Vinton Cerf. They worked together on designing Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, or TCP/IP that implements the architecture. ISPs (Internet Service Providers) began to arise in the late 1980s. In the US, the internet was fully commercialized in 1995.

ARPANET

ARPANET

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How Does Internet Work?

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Computers that access and use the internet normally are called clients as they are indirectly connected to the internet through an ISP. Computers break information into smaller packets which have to be assembled in the original order.

When the right address is assigned to a packet of information, the computer can figure out which destination to send it to. Having multiple computers on a network can lead to complications, even with unique addresses. Hence, the transfer of messages is handled by Packet Routing Network which requires a router to be set up. Transfer Protocol is used to ensure that no data packet is lost or left behind.

The flow of information follows the basic steps stated below:

A message is sent by Computer 1 to Computer 2 by IP address.
The message is broken into smaller pieces also called packets.
The packets are transferred following Transfer Protocol so that the quality is maintained.
The packets reach Computer 2 and are reassembled into the original message.

Data Transfer

Data Transfer

Check Important Notes for Electronic Communication System

Types of Computer Networks

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There are mainly two types of computer networks.

LAN or Local Area Network: Two or more electronic devices sharing information in a small geographic area. The network of computers at homes and workplaces are examples of LAN.
WAN or Wide Area Network: Two or more interconnected LANs. These networks are farther apart than LANs. Communication between them is done by telephone lines or radio waves.

LAN and WAN

LAN and WAN

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Advantages of Internet

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The growing amount of internet users has given it unprecedented power and importance in this day and age. The internet has caused bursts of creativity due to innovation and ease of use. The world has merged into one big population due to ease of connectivity. The following points are some of the numerous advantages of the internet.

The rise of e-banking platforms has resulted in easier money transactions.
E-Commerce websites have revolutionized shopping, leading to increased sales and distribution around the globe.
Cheap streaming services are on the rise and offer hours of entertainment.
Social media platforms have knit the world closer than ever before.
The online education system allows easy access to foreign universities.

Check More: Bandwidth of a Signal

Things to Remember

The Internet can be defined as interconnected computer networks that use the Internet Protocol Suite (TCP/IP) to link devices around the globe.
Research into packet switching technology led to the development of ARPANET, a network of interconnected computers used for military communication.
ARPANET was eventually commercialized and evolved into the modern internet. It was first opened to educational institutions around the US.
LAN is a network of two or more devices in the same geographical area. Home networks and workplace networks are examples.
WAN means two or more interconnected LANs. Communication between the networks is done through telephone lines and radio waves.
In the modern age, the internet has risen in importance due to various factors like the rise of e-commerce, e-banking, and online education.

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Sample Questions

Ques. A network of interconnected LANs is called ____________. (1 Mark)
a.) WAN
b.) GAN
c.) EAN
d.) QAN

Ans. a. WAN

WAN or Wide Area Network is a network of two or more interconnected LANs. These networks are farther apart geographically than LANs. The communication between the interconnected LANs is done through telephone lines and radio waves.

Ques. __________ is the father of the internet. (1 Mark)
a.) Charles Babbage
b.) William Wordsworth
c.) Tim Berners-Lee
d.) Henry James

Ans. c. Tim Berners-Lee

Many developments leading to the creation of the World Wide Web, the defining of HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol), HTML (HyperText Markup Language) used to create web pages, and URLs (Universal Resource Locators) that happened in 1989 and 1991 were thanks to Tim Berners-Lee. Hence, he is known as the father of the internet.

Ques. Internet uses __________ protocol to link devices. (1 Mark)
a.) Network Protocol
b.) Web Protocol
c.) Safety Protocol Suite.
d.) Internet Protocol Suite.

Ans. d. Internet Protocol Suite

The Internet Protocol Suite(Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, or TCP/IP) is a standard network model and communication protocol stack used on the Internet. It is the accepted global standard in computer-computer communication.

Ques. What are the two types of internet connections? (2 Marks)

Ans. There are mainly two types of internet connections – the older, slower dial-up connection and the broadband connection. There are various types of broadband connections like DSL, Cable, Fiber Optic, and Satellite.

Ques. What is meant by Wi-Fi? (2 Marks)

Ans. Wi-Fi is the wireless technology that connects computers, tablets, smartphones, and other devices to the internet. A radio signal is sent from a wireless router to a nearby device, which translates the signal into visible and usable data.

Ques. Explain the difference between Wi-Fi and Hotspot? (2 Marks)

Ans. Wi-Fi is a wireless network technology that uses radiofrequency waves to connect mobile devices to the internet without any actual cables. On the other hand, hotspot refers to the physical location, typically public places, served by an access point used to connect devices using Wi-Fi.

Ques. What are the three types of Wi-Fi? (4 Marks)

Ans. There are three types of Wi-Fi: WAN, LAN, and PAN.

Wireless Wide Area Networks (WWAN) - They are created through the use of mobile phone signals provided and maintained by mobile phone (cellular) service providers. They are an easy way to stay connected in case of the absence of other networks.

Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) - They are wireless networks that use radio waves. Cables are mainly used by the backbone network, with one or more wireless access points connecting the wireless users to the wired network. A WLAN can range from a single room to an entire campus.

Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) - They are short-range networks that use Bluetooth technology that have a typical range of about 30 feet. WPANs usually interconnect compatible devices near a central location.

Ques. What was the beginning of the internet? (2 Marks)

Ans. The first working prototype of the internet is the ARPANET which came in the late 1960s. ARPANET took advantage of packet switching technology to allow multiple computers to communicate on a single network. It was developed for confidential communication by the US military.

Ques. What is internet banking? How does it work? (3 Marks)

Ans. Internet banking means accessing your bank account and carrying out financial transactions through the internet on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. It is a quick and easy way to perform tasks, such as paying bills and transferring money, without having to visit or call the bank. Internet banking usually works through the online portal of the bank where the customers can create accounts to access their bank accounts.

Ques. What is e-commerce? What are the disadvantages of e-commerce? (4 Marks)

Ans. E-commerce means buying and selling products or services over the internet. It relies heavily on technologies like mobile commerce, electronic funds transfer, supply chain management, etc. It has many advantages, especially in a digitally attuned age.

The disadvantages of e-commerce are:

Security
Website bugs and crashes
Impossible to try and test products
Late delivery.
Some products are difficult to find online.
Lack of privacy
Tax issues
Legal issues

Ques. How are passwords sent over the internet? (2 Marks)

Ans. Passwords are sent over the internet in encrypted forms. Some of the encryption technologies are SHA1, MD5 Hash, etc. SHA1 returns a 160-bit hash while MD5 returns a 128-bit hash.

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What is Internet: History of Internet, Types of Computer Networks, How does Internet Work?

Brief History of Internet

How Does Internet Work?

Types of Computer Networks

Advantages of Internet

Things to Remember

Sample Questions

CBSE CLASS XII Related Questions

1.
Draw a circuit diagram of a full-wave rectifier using p-n junction diodes. Explain its working and show the input-output waveforms.

2.
Two thin lenses of focal length \( f_1 \) and \( f_2 \) are placed in contact with each other coaxially. Prove that the focal length \( f \) of the combination is given by \[ f = \frac{f_1 f_2}{f_1 + f_2}. \]

3.
Photoemission of electrons occurs from a metal (\( \phi_0 = 1.96 \, \text{eV} \)) when light of frequency \( 6.4 \times 10^{14} \, \text{Hz} \) is incident on it. Calculate: Energy of a photon in the incident light, The maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons, and The stopping potential.

4.
The figure shows three point charges kept at the vertices of triangle ABC. The net electric field, due to this system of charges, at the midpoint M of base BC will be:

5.
A tank is filled with a liquid to a height of \( 12.5 \, \text{m} \). The apparent depth of a needle lying at the bottom of the tank is measured to be \( 9.0 \, \text{m} \). Calculate the speed of light in the liquid.

6.
Suppose a pure Si crystal has \( 5 \times 10^{28} \) atoms per \( \text{m}^3 \). It is doped with \( 5 \times 10^{22} \) atoms per \( \text{m}^3 \) of Arsenic. Calculate majority and minority carrier concentration in the doped silicon. (Given: \( n_i = 1.5 \times 10^{16} \, \text{m}^{-3} \))

Similar Physics Concepts

Comments

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What is Internet: History of Internet, Types of Computer Networks, How does Internet Work?

Brief History of Internet

How Does Internet Work?

Types of Computer Networks

Advantages of Internet

Things to Remember

Sample Questions

CBSE CLASS XII Related Questions

1.Draw a circuit diagram of a full-wave rectifier using p-n junction diodes. Explain its working and show the input-output waveforms.

2.Two thin lenses of focal length \( f_1 \) and \( f_2 \) are placed in contact with each other coaxially. Prove that the focal length \( f \) of the combination is given by \[ f = \frac{f_1 f_2}{f_1 + f_2}. \]

3.Photoemission of electrons occurs from a metal (\( \phi_0 = 1.96 \, \text{eV} \)) when light of frequency \( 6.4 \times 10^{14} \, \text{Hz} \) is incident on it. Calculate: Energy of a photon in the incident light, The maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons, and The stopping potential.

4.The figure shows three point charges kept at the vertices of triangle ABC. The net electric field, due to this system of charges, at the midpoint M of base BC will be:

5.A tank is filled with a liquid to a height of \( 12.5 \, \text{m} \). The apparent depth of a needle lying at the bottom of the tank is measured to be \( 9.0 \, \text{m} \). Calculate the speed of light in the liquid.

6.Suppose a pure Si crystal has \( 5 \times 10^{28} \) atoms per \( \text{m}^3 \). It is doped with \( 5 \times 10^{22} \) atoms per \( \text{m}^3 \) of Arsenic. Calculate majority and minority carrier concentration in the doped silicon. (Given: \( n_i = 1.5 \times 10^{16} \, \text{m}^{-3} \))

Similar Physics Concepts

Comments

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWS LETTER

1.
Draw a circuit diagram of a full-wave rectifier using p-n junction diodes. Explain its working and show the input-output waveforms.

2.
Two thin lenses of focal length \( f_1 \) and \( f_2 \) are placed in contact with each other coaxially. Prove that the focal length \( f \) of the combination is given by \[ f = \frac{f_1 f_2}{f_1 + f_2}. \]

3.
Photoemission of electrons occurs from a metal (\( \phi_0 = 1.96 \, \text{eV} \)) when light of frequency \( 6.4 \times 10^{14} \, \text{Hz} \) is incident on it. Calculate: Energy of a photon in the incident light, The maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons, and The stopping potential.

4.
The figure shows three point charges kept at the vertices of triangle ABC. The net electric field, due to this system of charges, at the midpoint M of base BC will be:

5.
A tank is filled with a liquid to a height of \( 12.5 \, \text{m} \). The apparent depth of a needle lying at the bottom of the tank is measured to be \( 9.0 \, \text{m} \). Calculate the speed of light in the liquid.

6.
Suppose a pure Si crystal has \( 5 \times 10^{28} \) atoms per \( \text{m}^3 \). It is doped with \( 5 \times 10^{22} \) atoms per \( \text{m}^3 \) of Arsenic. Calculate majority and minority carrier concentration in the doped silicon. (Given: \( n_i = 1.5 \times 10^{16} \, \text{m}^{-3} \))