Stranded wire has more ________ compared to solid.

Stranded wire has more ________ compared to solid.

• A. Capacitance
• B. Attenuation
• C. Rigidity
• D. Conductivity

Answer: (B)

Attenuation is the type of loss being considered. Stranded wire, made of many small strands, introduces more impedance along the length than a solid conductor with the same overall cross-sectional area. The inter-strand contacts add resistance, and the exposed surface and geometry create extra parasitics (especially at higher frequencies), so part of the signal is lost as it travels. This makes stranded wire exhibit more attenuation than solid wire for the same gauge, particularly for AC and high-frequency signals. Rigidity is actually reduced in stranded wire, and conductivity remains essentially the same for copper with the same total cross-section; capacitance can be affected but the visible, practical effect described in many tests is the greater attenuation.

Attenuation is the type of loss being considered. Stranded wire, made of many small strands, introduces more impedance along the length than a solid conductor with the same overall cross-sectional area. The inter-strand contacts add resistance, and the exposed surface and geometry create extra parasitics (especially at higher frequencies), so part of the signal is lost as it travels. This makes stranded wire exhibit more attenuation than solid wire for the same gauge, particularly for AC and high-frequency signals. Rigidity is actually reduced in stranded wire, and conductivity remains essentially the same for copper with the same total cross-section; capacitance can be affected but the visible, practical effect described in many tests is the greater attenuation.