Final answer:
Noise refers to disruptions in the communication process, either in everyday interactions or specialized fields like astronomy and telecommunications. It can arise from a variety of sources, such as terrestrial communications interfering with radio astronomy or dispersion in optical fibers affecting data transmission.
Step-by-step explanation:
Disruptions that hinder the flow of messages in the communication process are referred to as noise. Not only is noise an issue in everyday communication, but it also poses significant challenges in various fields such as astronomy and telecommunications. For instance, noise in radio frequencies can interfere with the observations made by radio astronomers because of the expansion in cellular phone use, which occupies more radio channels. Likewise, noise impacts information transmission through optical fibers, as dispersion causes the white light carrying data to spread out and potentially overlap with other messages, although lasers help reduce this effect due to their nearly pure wavelength. Moreover, interaction of light waves with objects through diffraction can cause interference and further noise in the system.
In the context of radio astronomy, noise from terrestrial communications, such as conversations transmitted as radio waves, could overwhelm the faint signals from cosmic sources that astronomers need to study. On the other hand, companies expanding cellular phone use argue that more radio channels are necessary to meet demand. When considering both sides, the congressional committee might be swayed by the need to preserve scientific research capabilities as well as by the economic benefits and consumer demands for more communication bandwidth.