Suppose the round-trip propagation delay for Ethernet is 46.4 s. This yields a minimum packet size of

Suppose the round-trip propagation delay for Ethernet is 46.4 µs.

This yields a minimum packet size of 512 bits (464 bits corresponding to propagation delay + 48 bits of jam signal).

(a) What happens to the minimum packet size if the delay time is held constant and the signaling rate rises to 100 Mbps?

(b) What are the drawbacks to so large a minimum packet size?

(c) If compatibility were not an issue, how might the specifications be written so as to permit a smaller minimum packet size?