---
title: "What is crosstalk"
subject: "Instrumentation II"
chapter: 7
key: "semester_5/instrumentation_ii:crosstalk-define"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/instrumentation_ii/crosstalk-define
site: BCT Engineering
---

# What is crosstalk

Instrumentation II · Chapter 7: Circuit Design

- Asked in: 2073 Chaitra, 1 marks
- Answer checked by Claude Sonnet 5.5 on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/instrumentation_ii/crosstalk-define
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_5/instrumentation_ii/chapter-7

## Question

What is crosstalk?

## Short answer

Crosstalk is the unwanted coupling of a signal from an aggressor trace to a neighboring victim trace through mutual capacitance and inductance, inducing noise.

## Answer

**Crosstalk** is the unwanted coupling of a signal from one trace or wire (aggressor) to a neighbouring trace or wire (victim) through mutual capacitance and mutual inductance, causing noise on the victim.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What is crosstalk?
   A. Intentional signal transfer
   B. Loss of power in the supply
   C. Unwanted coupling of a signal from an aggressor trace to a victim trace
   D. Reflection at the load only
   Answer: C. It occurs via mutual capacitance and mutual inductance. (Key point: Definition)

2. Through which two quantities does crosstalk couple?
   A. Resistance and temperature
   B. Mutual capacitance and mutual inductance
   C. Frequency and voltage rating
   D. Gain and bandwidth
   Answer: B. Neighbouring traces share electric and magnetic fields. (Key point: Mechanisms)

3. In crosstalk, what is the victim?
   A. The neighbouring trace that receives the noise
   B. The trace that generates it
   C. The ground plane only
   D. The power supply
   Answer: A. The aggressor causes noise on the victim. (Key point: Roles)