Science 10

Quarter 2
Module 4: Microwaves and Radio
waves
 TARGETS
1. differentiate between radio waves and
microwaves; and
2. explain the transmission and reception of
radio waves and microwaves in
communication.
1
 Which is the correct description of a radio wave?

A. An energy field with an electrical component.

B. An energy wave where there is an electrical field
perpendicular to a magnetic field

C. An electrical field alternating with a magnetic field

D. An energy wave comprising an electrical field in

the same plane as a magnetic field.
2  What objects use microwaves?

A. glasses, toasters, and blenders

B. speakers, engines, and intercoms
C. teddy bears, computers, and
televisions

D.microwave ovens, cellphones, and

satellites
3
 Which is TRUE of MICROWAVES?

A. Sound signals combine with carrier waves to travel

for a longer period in a short distance

B. Transmission should be cleared from obstruction.

C. The sound signal combines with carrier or radio
waves.
D. Loudspeakers convert electrical signals to sound
waves.
4
 Which is TRUE of radio waves?

A. Sound signals combine with carrier waves to travel

for a longer period in a short distance

B. Transmission should be cleared from obstruction.

C. Point – to – point communication system.

D. It is used for satellite communication.

5  
Which od the following is used for long distance
communication?

A. Radio waves B. Microwaves

C. Infrared D. Visible light

 Lesson 2:
Transmission and
Reception of Radio
Waves in Radio
Communication
Transmission of Radio
waves
In radio communication, sound
waves from the transmitter to the
receiver undergo several processes
such as:

A.MODULATION
B. AMPLIFICATION
C. DEMODULATION
UNLOCKING OF WORDS AND
THEIR FUNCTIONS
Radio Transmitter:

1. Radio communication means the

radiation of radio waves by the
transmitting station, propagation
of these waves through space and
their reception by radio receiver.
Radio Transmitter

2. Transmitter is an extremely
important equipment and is housed
in broadcasting station.
 Purpose: produce radio waves for
transmission into space.
 Components: microphone, audio
amplifier, oscillator and modulator.
Components of Radio Transmitter

A. Microphone:
A microphone is a device
which converts sound wave into
electrical wave. The output of
microphone is fed to the modulator
for rendering the process of
modulation.
 Components
Radio Transmitter of Radio Transmitter
B. Audio amplifier
 The audio signal from microphone is
quite weak and requires amplification.
 This job is accomplished by cascaded
audio amplifier.
 The amplifier output from the last
audio amplifier is fed to the modulator
for rendering the process of
modulation.
Components of Radio Transmitter

C. Oscillator
 The function of the oscillator is
to produce a high frequency
signal, called carrier wave.
 The power level of carrier wave
is raised to a sufficient level by
radio frequency amplifier stage.
 Components of Radio Transmitter
D. Modulator
>The amplified audio signal and
carrier wave are fed to the
modulator.
> The resultant waves are called
modulated waves or radio waves
and the process is called
modulation.
Continution…
 The process of modulation permits the
transmission of audio signal at the
carrier frequency. As the carrier
frequency is very high, the audio signal
can be transmitted to large distances.

 The radio waves from the transmitter are

fed to the transmitting antenna or aerial
from where these are radiated into
space.
 Components of Radio Transmitter
 E. Transmitting antenna: The
transmitting antenna transmit to the
modulated waves into the receiving
antenna.
HOW DOES TRANSMISSION
OF RADIO WAVES TAKE
PLACE?
STEPS :TRANSMISSION OF RADIO WAVES
1.Sound wave are feed into a MICROWAVE and
OSCILLATOR.
2. Microwave transforms sound waves to
electrical signals then to AUDIO SIGNALS
3.Oscillator generates CARRIER WAVES

4. Audio Signal and Carrier waves are fed to the

MODULATOR.
STEPS :TRANSMISSION OF RADIO WAVES
5. The modulator puts out the modulated carrier
waves and pass the to the AMPLIFIER
6. Amplifier increases the energy of the carrier
waves and becomes AMPLIFIED MODULATEDand
are sent to the BROADCAST ANTENNA.
7. The broadcast antenna generates MODULATED
RADIO WAVES and are picked up by the RECEIVER
ANTENNA.
TRANSMISSION
Reception of Radio waves
Reception of radio waves
The oscillating electric and magnetic
field of the incoming radio wave push
the electrons in the receiving antenna
back and forth, creating a tiny
oscillating voltage, which is applied to
the radio receiver, which extracts the
information signal.
Reception of radio waves

 The receiver uses a bandpass filter

to separate the desired radio
station’s radio signal, then amplifies
the signal so it is stronger, then
extracts the information-bearing
modulation signal in a demodulator.
Reception of radio waves

 The recovered signal is sent to a

loudspeaker or earphone to produce
sound, or a television display screen
to produce a visible image, or other
devices.
STEPS :RECEPTION OF RADIO
WAVES(continuation of steps in transmission)
1. MODULATED RADIO WAVES are picked up by
the RECEIVER ANTENNA then to Frequency of the
weak modulated carrier waves
2. The TUNER will be selected and it will pass the
AMPLIFIER.

3. The amplifier increases the energy of SOUND

SIGNAL AND CARRIER WAVES.
STEPS :RECEPTION OF RADIO
WAVES(continuation of steps in transmission)
4. Sound signal and carrier waves pass the
DEMODULATOR.

5. The demodulator remove the carrier waves

leaving only the Sound signal.

6. The sound signal pass the Loud speaker.

 UCSD: Physics 8; 2006

Polarization of Radio Waves

Transmitting
antenna
E

Spring 2006 40
 UCSD: Physics 8; 2006

Reception of Radio Waves

E Receiving antenna works
best when ‘tuned’ to the
wavelength of the signal, and
B

has proper polarization

Electrons in antenna are “jiggled”

by passage of electromagnetic wave

Optimum antenna length is /4: one-quarter wavelength

Spring 2006 41
 UCSD: Physics 8; 2006

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”

Spring 2006 42
 UCSD: Physics 8; 2006

AM Radio
• Amplitude Modulation (AM) uses changes in
the signal strength to convey information

pressure modulation (sound)

electromagnetic wave
Spring 2006
modulation 43
 UCSD: Physics 8; 2006

FM Radio
• Frequency Modulation (FM) uses changes in
the wave’s frequency to convey information
pressure modulation (sound)

electromagnetic wave
modulation
Spring 2006 44
Transmission of
Microwaves
 TRANSMISSION OF MICROWAVES

1. Microwave transmission involves the

sending and receiving of microwave signals
over a microwave link. This microwave link
is made up of a string of microwave radio
antennas. They are located at the top of
towers at various microwave sites.
 TRANSMISSION OF MICROWAVES
2. Microwave transmission is considered a 'Line of
Sight' technology. This is because the proper
functioning of microwave transmission requires empty
airspace.
 TRANSMISSION OF MICROWAVES

The airspace between two point-to-point

microwave towers must be clear of mountains,
buildings, and other objects. These obstructions
can block microwave signals.
 TRANSMISSION OF MICROWAVES
Microwave transmission - although long-
distance - is limited by this need for a clear line
of sight. Radio transmission can also be
interfered with by the atmosphere and rain fade.
For these reasons, microwave transmission is
usually only used in areas without LAN or other
transport methods.
TRANSMISSION OF MICROWAVES

Microwave radio transmission is commonly used

in point-to-point communication systems on the
surface of the Earth, in satellite communications,
and in deep space radio communications. Other
parts of the microwave radio band are used for
radars, radio navigation systems, sensor systems,
and radio astronomy.
 Generalization

What have you

learned today??
1
In radio communication, sound waves are fed to
the radio station microphone and heard through
a radio. What is the role of the radio station?

A.Receiver
B. Transmitter
C. Radio communication
D. Transmitter-Receiver
2

What is the function of the loudspeaker?

A. Select the frequency received

B. Increase the intensity of the sound
C. Strengthen the weak signals
D. Convert electrical signals to sound waves
3
Why is it that from the sound signals to be
transmitted and received, they should combine
with the carrier waves or radio waves?
A. Radio waves can travel a long distance in
a short time
B. Sound signals cannot travel a long
distance in a short time.
C. Radio waves can travel in space.
D. All of the above
4
Which is a repetitive process in a
communication satellite?

A. A transmitting station and a receiver

B. A transmitting station and many receiving
stations.
C. Many transmitting stations and many
receiving stations.
D. Transmitting station only
5 In radio communication, for sound to be
transmitted and received , following process are
involved?
I. amplification II. modulation
III. reception IV. demodulation

A. I,II,III,IV C. II,I,III,IV

B. I,IV,III,II D. III,IV,I,II
 FORMATIVE TEST

CHECKING!!!
1
In radio communication, sound waves are fed to
the radio station microphone and heard through
a radio. What is the role of the radio station?

A.Receiver
B. Transmitter
C. Radio communication
D. Transmitter-Receiver
2

What is the function of the loudspeaker?

A. Select the frequency received

B. Increase the intensity of the sound
C. Strengthen the weak signals
D. Convert electrical signals to sound waves
3
Why is it that fro the sound signals to be
transmitted and received, they should combine
with the carrier waves or radio waves?
A. Radio waves can travel a long distance in
a short time
B. Sound signals cannot travel a lond
distance in a short time.
C. Radio waves can travel in space.
D. All of the above
4
Which is a repetitive process in a
communication satellite?

A. A transmitting station and a receiver

B. A transmitting station and many receiving
stations.
C. Many transmitting stations and many
receiving stations.
D. Transmitting station only
5 In radio communication, for sound to be
transmitted and received , following process are
involved?
I. amplification II. modulation
III. reception IV. demodulation

A. I,II,III,IV C. II,I,III,IV

B. I,IV,III,II A. III,IV,I,II
Questions? Thank you!
• Transmission and Reception of Radio Waves
• For the propagation and interception of radio waves, a transmitter and receiver are employed. A radio wave acts as a carrier of information-bearing signals; the information
may be encoded directly on the wave by periodically interrupting its transmission (as in dot-and-dash telegraphy) or impressed on it by a process called modulation. The
actual information in a modulated signal is contained in its sidebands, or frequencies added to the carrier wave, rather than in the carrier wave itself. The two most common
types of modulation used in radio are amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM). Frequency modulation minimizes noise and provides greater fidelity than
amplitude modulation, which is the older method of broadcasting. Both AM and FM are analog transmission systems, that is, they process sounds into continuously varying
patterns of electrical signals which resemble sound waves. Digital radio uses a transmission system in which the signals propagate as discrete voltage pulses, that is, as
patterns of numbers; before transmission, an analog audio signal is converted into a digital signal, which may be transmitted in the AM or FM frequency range. A digital radio
broadcast offers compact-disc-quality reception and reproduction on the FM band and FM-quality reception and reproduction on the AM band.
• In its most common form, radio is used for the transmission of sounds (voice and music) and pictures (television). The sounds and images are converted into electrical
signals by a microphone (sounds) or video camera (images), amplified, and used to modulate a carrier wave that has been generated by an oscillator circuit in a transmitter.
The modulated carrier is also amplified, then applied to an antenna that converts the electrical signals to electromagnetic waves for radiation into space. Such waves radiate
at the speed of light and are transmitted not only by line of sight but also by deflection from the ionosphere.
• Receiving antennas intercept part of this radiation, change it back to the form of electrical signals, and feed it to a receiver. The most efficient and most common circuit for
radio-frequency selection and amplification used in radio receivers is the superheterodyne. In that system, incoming signals are mixed with a signal from a local oscillator to
produce intermediate frequencies (IF) that are equal to the arithmetical sum and difference of the incoming and local frequencies. One of those frequencies is applied to an
amplifier. Because the IF amplifier operates at a single frequency, namely the intermediate frequency, it can be built for optimum selectivity and gain. The tuning control on a
radio receiver adjusts the local oscillator frequency. If the incoming signals are above the threshold of sensitivity of the receiver and if the receiver is tuned to the frequency of
the signal, it will amplify the signal and feed it to circuits that demodulate it, i.e., separate the signal wave itself from the carrier wave.
• There are certain differences between AM and FM receivers. In an AM transmission the carrier wave is constant in frequency and varies in amplitude (strength) according to
the sounds present at the microphone; in FM the carrier is constant in amplitude and varies in frequency. Because the noise that affects radio signals is partly, but not
completely, manifested in amplitude variations, wideband FM receivers are inherently less sensitive to noise. In an FM receiver, the limiter and discriminator stages are
circuits that respond solely to changes in frequency. The other stages of the FM receiver are similar to those of the AM receiver but require more care in design and
assembly to make full use of FM's advantages. FM is also used in television sound systems. In both radio and television receivers, once the basic signals have been
separated from the carrier wave they are fed to a loudspeaker or a display device (now typically a liquid crystal display), where they are converted into sound and visual
images, respectively.
• In radio transmission, electromagnetic power from a radio
transmitter is coupled by the transmitter antenna into air or free
space. In radio reception, electromagnetic radio waves are
intercepted by a receiving antenna and coupled into a receiver
for detection