What might happen if unused conductors are not terminated in a system?

If unused conductors in a wiring system are not terminated, the result can lead to increased interference. Termination is a critical aspect of maintaining signal integrity in cabling systems. When conductors are left unterminated, they can act as antennas that pick up electromagnetic interference from surrounding environments. This unwanted noise can degrade the quality of the signals being transmitted over the active conductors, potentially leading to data loss, reduced performance, and reliability issues.

In contrast, proper termination helps to minimize reflections and crosstalk, ensuring that the system operates efficiently and effectively. Thus, failing to terminate unused conductors creates an opportunity for interference that can adversely affect the overall performance of the cabling system.