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Radio Waves : 

Radio Waves Electromagnetic Radiation Radio Transmission and Reception Modulation Techniques

Electromagnetism : 

Spring 2006 UCSD: Physics 8; 2006 2 Electromagnetism Electricity and magnetism are different facets of electromagnetism recall that a static distribution of charges produces an electric field charges in motion (an electrical current) produce a magnetic field a changing magnetic field produces an electric field, moving charges Electric and Magnetic fields produce forces on charges An accelerating charge produces electromagnetic waves (radiation) Both electric and magnetic fields can transport energy Electric field energy used in electrical circuits & released in lightning Magnetic field carries energy through transformer

Electromagnetic Radiation : 

Spring 2006 UCSD: Physics 8; 2006 3 Electromagnetic Radiation Interrelated electric and magnetic fields traveling through space All electromagnetic radiation travels at c = 3?108 m/s in vacuum – the cosmic speed limit! real number is 299792458.0 m/s exactly

Examples of Electromagnetic Radiation : 

Spring 2006 UCSD: Physics 8; 2006 4 Examples of Electromagnetic Radiation AM and FM radio waves (including TV signals) Cell phone communication links Microwaves Infrared radiation Light X-rays Gamma rays What distinguishes these from one another?

Wavelength (Frequency) : 

Spring 2006 UCSD: Physics 8; 2006 5 Wavelength (Frequency)

The Electromagnetic Spectrum : 

Spring 2006 UCSD: Physics 8; 2006 6 The Electromagnetic Spectrum Relationship between frequency, speed and wavelength f ?l = c f is frequency, l is wavelength, c is speed of light Different frequencies of electromagnetic radiation are better suited to different purposes The frequency of a radio wave determines its propagation characteristics through various media

Generation of Radio Waves : 

Spring 2006 UCSD: Physics 8; 2006 7 Generation of Radio Waves Accelerating charges radiate EM energy If charges oscillate back and forth, get time-varying fields E + + + - - - + - - + - - - + + +

Generation of Radio Waves : 

Spring 2006 UCSD: Physics 8; 2006 8 Generation of Radio Waves If charges oscillate back and forth, get time-varying magnetic fields too. Note that the magnetic fields are perpendicular to the electric field vectors B + + + - - - + - - + - - - + + +

Polarization of Radio Waves : 

Spring 2006 UCSD: Physics 8; 2006 9 Polarization of Radio Waves Transmitting antenna

Reception of Radio Waves : 

Spring 2006 UCSD: Physics 8; 2006 10 Reception of Radio Waves Receiving antenna works best when ‘tuned’ to the wavelength of the signal, and has proper polarization Electrons in antenna are “jiggled” by passage of electromagnetic wave Optimum antenna length is ?/4: one-quarter wavelength

Encoding Information on Radio Waves : 

Spring 2006 UCSD: Physics 8; 2006 11 Encoding Information on Radio Waves What quantities characterize a radio wave? Two common ways to carry analog information with radio waves Amplitude Modulation (AM) Frequency Modulation (FM): “static free”

AM Radio : 

Spring 2006 UCSD: Physics 8; 2006 12 AM Radio Amplitude Modulation (AM) uses changes in the signal strength to convey information pressure modulation (sound) electromagnetic wave modulation

AM Radio in Practice : 

Spring 2006 UCSD: Physics 8; 2006 13 AM Radio in Practice Uses frequency range from 530 kHz to 1700 kHz each station uses 9 kHz spacing is 10 kHz (a little breathing room) ? 117 channels 9 kHz of bandwidth means 4.5 kHz is highest audio frequency that can be encoded falls short of 20 kHz capability of human ear Previous diagram is exaggerated: audio signal changes slowly with respect to radio carrier typical speech sound of 500 Hz varies 1000 times slower than carrier thus will see 1000 cycles of carrier to every one cycle of audio

FM Radio : 

Spring 2006 UCSD: Physics 8; 2006 14 FM Radio Frequency Modulation (FM) uses changes in the wave’s frequency to convey information pressure modulation (sound) electromagnetic wave modulation

FM Radio in Practice : 

Spring 2006 UCSD: Physics 8; 2006 15 FM Radio in Practice Spans 87.8 MHz to 108.0 MHz in 200 kHz intervals 101 possible stations example: 91X runs from 91.0–91.2 MHz (centered at 91.1) Nominally uses 150 kHz around center 75 kHz on each side 30 kHz for L + R (mono) ? 15 kHz audio capability 30 kHz offset for stereo difference signal (L - R) Again: figure exaggerated 75 kHz from band center, modulation is > 1000 times slower than carrier, so many cycles go by before frequency noticeably changes

AM vs. FM : 

Spring 2006 UCSD: Physics 8; 2006 16 AM vs. FM FM is not inherently higher frequency than AM these are just choices aviation band is 108–136 MHz uses AM technique Besides the greater bandwidth (leading to stereo and higher audio frequencies), FM is superior in immunity to environmental influences there are lots of ways to mess with an EM-wave’s amplitude pass under a bridge re-orient the antenna no natural processes mess with the frequency FM still works in the face of amplitude foolery

Frequency Allocation : 

Spring 2006 UCSD: Physics 8; 2006 17 Frequency Allocation

Converting back to sound: AM : 

Spring 2006 UCSD: Physics 8; 2006 18 Converting back to sound: AM AM is easy: just pass the AC signal from the antenna into a diode or better yet, a diode bridge then use capacitor to smooth out bumps but not so much as to smooth out audio bumps B D radio signal amplifier/ speaker

Converting back to sound: FM : 

Spring 2006 UCSD: Physics 8; 2006 19 Converting back to sound: FM More sophisticated need to compare instantaneous frequency to that of a reference source then produce a voltage proportional to the difference Compute L = [(L+R) + (L-R)]/2; R = [(L+R) - (L-R)]/2 amplify the L and R voltages to send to speakers Amplification is common to both schemes intrinsic signal is far too weak to drive speaker

Assignments : 

Spring 2006 UCSD: Physics 8; 2006 20 Assignments HW5: 12.E.24, 13.E.13, 13.E.15, 13.E.16, 13.P.7, 13.P.9, 13.P.11, plus additional required problems available on website