Sri Chaitanya Narayana IIT Academy

Chandigarh
Communication System Assignment
Subjective Type:

1. Calculate the length of a half – wave dipole at : (i) 30 MHz (ii) 300 HMz and (iii)
3000 MHz.
Ans : - i) 5 m ii) 0.5m iii) 0.05 m
2. A TV tower has a height of 500 m at a given place. Calculate its coverage range if the
radius of the Earth is 6400 km.
Ans : - 80m
3. A sinusoidal carrier voltage of amplitude 100 V is amplitude modulated by a
sinusoidal voltage to give an AM wave of minimum voltage amplitude 70 V. Find the
modulation index.
Ans : - 0.3
4. A sinusoidal carrier voltage of amplitude 120 V is amplitude modulated by another
sinusoidal modulating voltage producing 50% modulation. What is the amplitude of
the upper and lower side frequencies?
Ans : - 30 V
5. A sinusoidal carrier wave : 80 sin 2 (105t) V is modulated by an audio frequency
signal : 20 sin 2 (2 × 103t) V. Determine : (a) percentage modulation (b) frequency
spectrum and bandwidth of the modulated wave.
Ans : - a) 25% b) 98 kHz to 102 kHz with a BW of 4 kHz
6. A diode detector, with a load resistance R = 250 k in parallel with a capacitor C = 100
pF, is used to detect an amplitude modulated carrier. Find the highest modulation
frequency that can be detected without excessive disortation.
Ans : - 40 kHz
7. A transmitting antenna at the top of a tower has a height of 32 m and the height of the
receiving antenna is 50 m. What is the maximum distance between then for
satisfactory communication in LOS mode? Given radius of the earth is 6.4 × 106 m.
Ans : - 45.5 km.
8. A message signal of frequency 10 kHz and peak voltage of 10 V is used to modulate a
carrier of frequency 1 MHz and peak voltage of 20 V.
Determine : a) modulation index
b) the side bands produced.
Ans : -
a) 0.5
b) 1010 kHz ; 990 kHz

9. A modulating signal is a square wave, as shown in fig. The carrier wave is given by
c(t) = 2 sin (8t) volts.
 (i) Sketch the amplitude modulated waveform
(ii) What is the modulation index?

Single Answer type: -

1. Which of the following frequencies will be suitable for beyond – the -horizon
communication using sky waves?
a) 10 kHz b) 10 MHz c) 1 GHz d) 1000 GHz
2. Frequencies in the UHF range normally propagate by means of:
a) ground waves b) sky waves c) surface waves d) space waves
3. Digital signals:
i) do not provide a continuous set of values,
ii) represent values as district steps,
iii) can utilize binary system, and
iv) can utilize decimal as well as binary systems.
Which of the above statements are true?
a) (i) and (ii) only b) (ii) and (iii) only
c) (i), (ii) and (iii) but not (iv) d) all of (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)
4. Three waves A, B and C of frequencies 1600 kHz, 5MHz and 60 MHz, respectively
are to be transmitted from one place to another. Which of the following is the most
appropriate mode of communication?
a) A is transmitted via space wave while B and C are transmitted via sky wave.
b) A is transmitted via ground wave, B via sky wave C and via space wave.
c) B and C are transmitted via ground wave while A is transmitted via sky wave.
d) B is transmitted via ground wave while A and c are transmitted via space wave.
5. A 100 m long antenna is mounted on a 500 m tall building. The complex can become
a transmission tower for waves with :
a) ~ 400m b) ~ 25m c) ~ 150 m d) ~ 2400 m
6. A 1 kW signal is transmitted using a communication channel which provides
attenuation at the rate of – 2dB per km. If the communication channel has a total
length of 5 km, the power of the signal received is:
a) 900 W b) 100W c) 990 W d) 1010 W

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7. A speech signal of 3 kHz is used to modulate a carrier signal of frequency 1 MHz
using amplitude modulation. The frequencies of the side bands will be:
a) 1.003 MHz and 0.997 MHz b) 3001 kHz and 2997 kHz
c) 1003 kHz and 1000 kHz d) 1 MHz and 0.997 MHz
8. A message signal of frequency is superposed on a carrier wave of frequency to
get an amplitude modulated wave (AM). The frequency of the AM wave will be:

a) b) c) d)
9. I – V characteristics of four devices are shown in fig.
Identify devices that can be used for modulation:

(i) (ii)

(iii) (iv)
a) (i) and (iii) b) only (iii)
c) (ii) and some regions of (iv) d) all the devices can be used
10. A male voice after modulation – transmission sound like that of a female to the
receiver. The problem is due to:
a) poor selection of modulation index (selected 0 < m < I)
b) poor bandwidth selection of amplifiers
c) poor selection of carrier frequency
d) loss of energy in transmission
11. A basic communication system consists of:
a) transmitter b) information source
c) user of information d) channel
e) receiver
Choose the correct sequence in which these are arranged in a basic communication
system.
a) ABCDE b) BADEC c) BDACE d) BEADC
12. Identify the mathematical expression for amplitude modulated wave:
a) b)
c) d)
One or more than type :
13. An audio signal of 15 kHz frequency cannot be transmitted over long distances
without modulation because:
a) the size of the required antenna would be at least 5 km which is not convenient

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 b) the audio signal cannot be transmitted through sky waves
c) the size of the required antenna would be at least 20 km, which is not convenient
d) effective power transmitted would be very low, if the size of the antenna is less than
5 km
14. Audio sine waves of 3 kHz frequency are used to amplitude modulate a carrier signal
of 1.5 MHz. which of the following statements are true?
a) the side band frequencies are 1506 kHz and 1494 kHz
b) the bandwidth required for amplitude modulation is 6 kHz
c) the bandwidth required for amplitude modulation is 3 MHz
d) the side band frequencies are 1503 kHz and 1497 kHz
15. A TV transmission tower has a height of 240 m. Signals broadcast from this tower will
be received by LOS communication at a distance of:
a) 100 km b) 24 km c) 55 km d) 50 km
16. The frequency response curve for the circuit used for production of AM wave should
be:

(i) (ii)

(iii) (iv)
a) (i) followed by (ii) b) (ii) followed by (i)
c) (iii) d) (iv)
17. In amplitude modulation, the modulation index m, is kept less than or equal to 1
because:
a) m > 1, will result in interference between carrier frequency and massage frequency,
resulting into distortion
b) m > 1 will result in overlapping of both side bands resulting into loss of information
c) m > 1 will result in change in phase between carrier signal and message signal
d) m > 1 indicates amplitude of message signal greater than amplitude of carrier signal
resulting into distortion
Very Short Answers: -
1. Which of the following would produce analog signals and which would produce
digital signals?
i) A vibrating tuning fork
ii) Musical sound due to a vibrating sitar string.
iii) Light pulse
iv) Output of NAND gate.

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Ans : - i) A vibrating fork and (ii) musical sound due to a vibrating sitar string produce
analog signals.
ii) Light pulse and (iv) output of a NAND gate produce digital signals.
2. Would sky waves be suitable for transmission of TV signals of 60 MHz frequency?
Ans : - No. Sky waves of very high frequency (VHF) and above, i.i., above 30 MHz pass
through the ionosphere into outer space.
3. Two waves A and B of frequencies 2 MHz and 3 MHz, respectively are beamed in the
same direction for communication via sky wave. Which one of these is likely to travel
longer distance in the ionosphere before suffering total internal reflection?

Ans : - Refractive index of the ionosphere, . As v increases, also increases.

Further, as sin r = sin i / , larger the value of , lesser the value of r, i.e., bending of
wave is less. Thus, 3MHz wave will achieve the condition for TIR after travelling
longer distance as compared to the distance travelled by 2 MHz wave to suffer TIR.
4. The maximum amplitude of an AM wave is found to be 15 V while its minimum
amplitude is found to be 3 V. What is the modulation index?
Ans : - Maximum amplitude of AM wave, M1 = 15V
Minimum amplitude of AM wave, M2 = 3 V

Modulation index,

5. Compute the LC product of a tuned amplifier circuit required to generate a carrier

wave of 1MHz for amplitude modulation.

Ans : - As (as 1MHz = 106Hz)

Thus, LC =
6. Why is a AM signal likely to be more noisy than a FM signal upon transmission
through a channel?
Ans : - Practically all the natural and man – made noises consist of electrical amplitude
disturbances. Since a radio receiver cannot distinguish between amplitude variations
that represent noise and those that contain the desired signal, AM signal is noisy.
In frequency modulation (FM), by impressing the dignal on the carrier through a
variation in its frequency, while keeping the carrier amplitude constant, all the
amplitude sensitive noises are eliminated since variations in amplitude (i.e., noise) are
not reproduced.
Short Answer Questions:-
1. Fig. shows a communication system. What is the output power when input signal is of
1.01 m W? [gain in dB = 10 log10 (P0/Pi)]

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 Ans : - Total gain of both the amplifiers = 10dB + 20dB = 30 dB
Loss suffered in transmission path = (2dB /km) (5.0 km) = 10dB
Overall gain of the signal = net gain of the amplifier = 30 dB – 10 dB = 20 dB
As gain in dB = 10log10(P0/Pi),
20 = 10 log10(P0/Pi) or log10 (P0/Pi) = 2
Or (P0/Pi) = 102 = 100
Or P0 = 102Pi = 102 (1.01 mW) = 101 mW
2. A TV transmission tower antenna is at a height of 20 m. How much service area can it
cover if the receiving antenna is : (a) a ground level (b) at a height of 25 m? Calculate
the Percentage increase in area covered in case (b) relative to case (a).

Ans : - a) Range,
= 16 km
Area covered, A1 = = 3.14 (16 km)2 = 803. 84 km2
b) Range (maximum line – of – sight distance between the transmitting and the
receiving antennas)

= 16 km + 17.9 km = 33.9 km
Area covered,

Percentage increase in area

= 348.9%.
3. If the whole Earth is to be connected by LOS communication using space waves (no
restriction of antenna size or tower height), what is the minimum number of antennas
required? Calculate the tower height of these antennas in terms of Earth’s radius.
Ans : -

h=R

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4. The maximum frequency for reflection of sky waves from a certain layer of the
ionosphere is found to be fmax =, where Nmax. is the maximum electron density at that
layer of the ionosphere. On a certain day, it is observed that signals of frequencies
higher than 5MHz are not received by reflection from the F 1 layer of the ionosphere
while signals of frequencies higher than 9 MHz are not received by reflection from the
F2 layer of the ionosphere. Estimate the maximum electron densities of the F1 and F2
layers on that day.
Ans : - For F1 – layer = 3.086 × 1011 / m3.
For F2 – layer = 7.9 × 1011 / m3.
5. On radiating (sending out) an AM modulated signal, the total radiated power is due to
energy carried by and . Suggest ways to minimize cost of
radiation without compromising on information.
Ans: - Out of and , only or contains
information. Hence cost of radiation can be minimized by transmitting: (i) or
(ii) or (ii) both and . For details, refer to single – side and
transmission :
Long Answer Questions : -
1. (a) The intensity of a light pulse travelling along a communication channel decrease
exponentially with distance x according to the relation , where I0 is the
intensity at x = 0 and is the attenuation constant.

Show that the intensity reduces by 75 per cent after a distance of .

(b) Attenuation of a signal can be expressed in decibel (dB) according to the relation

dB – 10log10 . What is the attenuation in dB / km for an optical fibre in which the

intensity falls by 50 per cent over a distance of 50 km?
Ans : -(a) when intensity of light pulse reduces by 75%. (i.e., ¾ I0), intensity after travelling
distance x, i.e.,

As

(b) If attenuation of a signal is ecpressed in dB.

( is the attenuation in dB / km)

When intensity of the signal falls by 50% (i.e., I 0 / 2), intensity after travelling a
distance x,

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 Thus,
Or 10 log102 = 50 (as x = 50 km)

Or
2. A 50 MHz sky wave takes 4.04 ms to reach a receiver via re – transmission from a
satellite 600 km above Earth’s surface. Assuming re – transmission time by satellite
negligible, find the distance source and receiver. If communication between the two
was to be done by Line of Sight (LOS) method, what should size and placement of
receiving and transmitting antennas be?

Ans : - 606 km, 170 km, 565 m.

3. An amplitude modulated wave is as shown in fig. Calculate : (a) the percentage
modulation , (b) peak carrier voltage and , (c) peach value of information voltage.

Ans : - , 66.67 %, 20 V
4. (a) Draw the plot of amplitude versus for an amplitude modulated wave whose
carrier wave is carrying two modulating signals, and .
(b) Is the plot symmetrical about ? Comment especially about plot in region
(c) Extrapolate and predict the problems one can except if more waves are to be
modulated.
(d) Suggest solutions to the above problem. In the process, can one understand another
advantage of modulation in terms of band width?
Ans : - (a) Let AM wave whose carrier carrying two modulating signals and
after passing square law device be represented as

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Putting back the value of, we get

Frequencies present in v(t) are:

Plot of amplitude versus is shown in fig.

(b) The plot shown is not symmetrical about . It should be noted that there is crowding of
frequency spectrum for .
(c) If more modulating signals are present in the carrier, there will be more crowding for
. As such there are greater chances of mixing of signals.
(d) To solve the problem mentioned in (c), we should increase the bandwidth and . This
enables us to accommodate more signals. It s thus obvious that large carrier frequency
helps in carrying more modulating signals (i.e., more information) which eventually
increase band width.
5. An audio signal is modulated by a carrier wave of 20 MHz such that the bandwidth
required for modulation is 3 kHz. Could this wave be demodulated by a diode detector
which has the values of R and C as:
a) ?
b) ?
c) ?
Ans : - (a) can be demodulated
(b) can be demodulated
(c) cannot be modulated
Section – III
1. The maximum peak – to – peak voltage of an AM wave is 16mV and the minimum
peak – to – peak voltage is 8 mV. What is the modulation factor?
Ans : - 0.33
2. A sinusoidal modulating wave of frequency 5 kHz and amplitude6V modulates the
amplitude of a carrier wave of frequency 10 MHz and amplitude 10V. Calculate the
two side frequencies and their amplitudes.
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 Ans : - 9.995 MHz, 10.005 MHz; 3V
3. The maximum and minimum amplitudes of an AM wave are 110 V and 90V. What is
the amplitude of the un modulated carrier?
Ans : - 100V
4. The amplitude of a carrier wave is 3 kV. The side frequencies of AM wave obtained
from this carrier have al amplitude of 300 V. What is the depth of modulation?
Ans : - 0.2
5. An AM wave is represented as cm(t) = 10(1 + 0.4 sin 3140 t) sin (2.2 × 106t) V. Find:
a) minimum and maximum amplitudes of the wave
b) frequency components contained in the wave
c) amplitudes of these components.
Ans : - (a) 14 V, 6V (b) 350 kHz, 349.5 kHz and 350.5 kHz
(c) 10 V, 2 V and 2V
6. A 100 kHz bandwidth is required to accommodate five AM broadcasting stations
simultaneously. What is maximum permissible frequency foe each station?
Ans : - 10 kHz
7. A microwave telephone link operating at the central frequency of 10 GHz has been
established. If 2% of this is available for microwave communication channel, then
how many telephone channels can be simultaneously granted if each telephone is
allotted a bandwidth of 8 kHz.
Ans : - 2.5 × 104
8. The carrier frequency of a station is 50 MHz. A resistor of 10k and a capacitor of 10pF
are available in the detector circuit as RC parallel network. Will the network serve the
purpose of satisfactory detection?
Ans : - Yes
9. In a detector, the RC parallel network has R = and C = 100 pF. What can you say
about the frequency of carrier signal that can be detected?
Ans : - The frequency of the carrier should be greater than 1 MHz.

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