Question 42F6

In an Ethernet network, a **collision domain** defines a segment where only one device can transmit at a time without causing a collision. If multiple devices within the same collision domain attempt to transmit simultaneously, their signals interfere, resulting in a collision. This forces all involved devices to back off and retransmit, effectively sharing the available bandwidth. The total bandwidth of the medium is thus divided among all active nodes within that domain as they contend for access. Modern Ethernet switches largely mitigate this by creating a separate collision domain for each port, but the principle explains shared bandwidth in older or simpler network configurations. Options A and B are incorrect: "Vessel Compartment" is a physical location and irrelevant to networking. "Address Range" defines a logical group of IP addresses but does not dictate how physical bandwidth is shared at the Ethernet level. Option C, "Star Topology," describes the physical layout where devices connect to a central point, but it's the underlying collision domain (especially with a hub) that determines bandwidth sharing, not the topology itself.