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 0.53 ns to process a request If the information has to be obtained from memory in 2.05 ns , what is the maximum distance the memory unit can be from the central processing unit?

Explanation / Answer

We are given that it takes 0.53 ns to process a request

Which leaves 2.05 - 0.53 ns = 1.52 ns for the pulse to travel there and back

i.e 0.76 ns to travel one side.

Assuming everything is happening in sillicon space

then d = (c/3.5)*t

d = (299792458/3.5)*0.76 km/s = 65097790.9 km/s = 0.6509779 m/ns = 65.0978 cm/ns

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