The correct answer is that only one device can transmit at a time to avoid data collisions. This is true because in a collision domain, the network medium is shared, and if two devices send signals simultaneously, those signals interfere and corrupt the data, a condition known as a collision. To manage this, legacy Ethernet segments using hubs or bus topologies rely on CSMA/CD, where devices listen before speaking and back off if a collision is detected. On the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how hubs create a single collision domain, while switches break it up per port—a common trap is confusing collision domains with broadcast domains. Remember that hubs are half-duplex and force devices to take turns, whereas switches allow full-duplex, collision-free communication. A simple memory tip: think of a collision domain as a one-lane bridge where only one car can cross at a time.
N10-009 Networking Concepts Practice Question
This N10-009 practice question tests your understanding of networking concepts. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
In a network, a collision domain is a network segment where which of the following is true?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A: Only one device can transmit at a time to avoid data collisions
In a collision domain, only one device can transmit at a time because if two or more devices transmit simultaneously, their signals collide, corrupting the data. This is a fundamental characteristic of half-duplex Ethernet segments, such as those using hubs or legacy bus topologies, where the medium is shared and CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection) is used to manage access.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
A: Only one device can transmit at a time to avoid data collisions
Why this is correct
This is the definition of a collision domain; collisions occur if two devices transmit simultaneously.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
MAC-to-IP resolution is performed by ARP, not related to collision domains.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse collision domains with broadcast domains, mistakenly thinking that confining broadcast traffic or sharing an IP subnet defines a collision domain, when in fact collision domains are strictly about physical-layer contention for the medium.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, a collision domain is any network segment where two or more stations share the same physical medium and can interfere with each other's transmissions. In modern switched networks, each switch port creates its own separate collision domain, eliminating collisions entirely when operating in full-duplex mode. A real-world scenario where this matters is in legacy Ethernet with hubs: if you connect 10 devices to a hub, all 10 are in one collision domain, severely limiting throughput due to frequent collisions.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A network engineer segments a warehouse floor into three subnets: 20 scanners, 5 printers, and 2 management hosts. Picking the wrong mask wastes addresses or leaves too few usable hosts. Exam questions test whether you can apply CIDR notation, calculate block size, and identify the correct usable-host range for a given prefix.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this N10-009 question in full detail.
Networking Concepts — This question tests Networking Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A: Only one device can transmit at a time to avoid data collisions — In a collision domain, only one device can transmit at a time because if two or more devices transmit simultaneously, their signals collide, corrupting the data. This is a fundamental characteristic of half-duplex Ethernet segments, such as those using hubs or legacy bus topologies, where the medium is shared and CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection) is used to manage access.
What should I do if I get this N10-009 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
This N10-009 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the N10-009 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.