Which statement best describes a twisted pair in wiring?

• A. It uses two conductors twisted together to reduce electromagnetic interference.
• B. It is a single conductor with shielding around it.
• C. It is a fiber optic cable used for high-speed data.
• D. It is two conductors that must always be run in parallel without twisting.

Answer: (A)

Twisted pair is defined by two electrical conductors that are twisted together. The twisting causes any external noise or interference that couples into the pair to affect both conductors similarly, so when the signals are read differentially, the noise cancels out. This arrangement lowers electromagnetic interference and crosstalk, helping preserve data integrity in networking and control wiring. The concept is distinct from a shielded single conductor (which uses shielding rather than twisting to control interference), a fiber optic cable (which transmits light, not electrical signals), or a pair run that isn’t twisted (which wouldn’t benefit from the noise-canceling effect of twisting).