In signal transmission, what is the term for the decrease in the magnitude of current, voltage, or power between two points?

Introduction / Context:
Signals lose strength as they propagate through copper, fiber, or free space. Understanding the correct terminology helps when sizing amplifiers, selecting cables, and budgeting optical links.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We consider electrical or optical signals over distance.
• Magnitude refers to measurable quantities like voltage, current, or power.

Concept / Approach:
The correct term for a reduction in signal magnitude is attenuation. It is often quantified in decibels (dB). Excessive attenuation degrades signal-to-noise ratio and can cause bit errors or link failures.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Link budgets compute total attenuation from connectors, splices, and medium loss per unit length, verifying whether received power meets receiver sensitivity.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Amplitude: the value itself, not its decrease over distance.
• Aloha: a random access MAC protocol, unrelated to signal strength.
• Carrier: a sinusoidal signal used for modulation, not loss.
• None: incorrect because the correct term is attenuation.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing attenuation with interference or noise; assuming attenuation is linear across frequency (it is often frequency-dependent).

Final Answer:
Attenuation