Final answer:
Ethernet addresses are not bound to specific networks because they are hard-coded into devices, allowing for consistent identification across different networks and facilitating local network operations.
Step-by-step explanation:
IP addresses are assigned to devices on a network and are used for locating and identifying these devices on an IP network. In contrast, Ethernet addresses (also known as MAC addresses) are unique identifiers assigned to network interfaces for communications at the data link layer of a network segment. Ethernet addresses are not tied to specific networks for several practical reasons. One key reason is that these addresses are hard-coded into a device's network hardware, making them permanent and not easily changed. This allows the device to maintain a constant identifier across different networks.
Another significant reason is related to the role of Ethernet in local network operations. Ethernet operates at a lower level than IP, and MAC addresses are used to ensure that packets are delivered to the correct hardware on the local network, regardless of the broader network structure. If Ethernet addresses were tied to specific networks, it would severely limit a device's ability to connect to different networks seamlessly. Imagine having to change your device's hardware every time you connected to a different WiFi network; it would be incredibly inefficient!