CHAPTER 15: RADIO

WAVE PROPAGATION

REVIEW QUESTIONS

SECTION 15.2
What is the polarization of a wave with its magnetic field vector horizontal?
Vertical polarizationSECTION 15.3
All else being equal, larger antennas receive a stronger signal than smaller
antennas. Why is this?
They have a greater effective area so they intercept a greater proportion of the
radiatedenergy.SECTION 15.4
Explain why total internal reflection is possible when radiation travels from a
medium of higherindex of refraction to one with lower refractive index, but not
when radiation travels in the otherdirection.
In this first case, the radiation is bent away from the normal and toward the
boundary. Foran angle of incidence equal to the critical angle, the light will refract
along the normal, andfor greater angles of incidence, reflection takes place. In the
second case, the radiation isbent toward the normal and away from the surface, and
there is no angle of incidence thatwill cause the refracted ray to lie along the
boundary.SECTION 15.5
Why can AM radio stations often be received at distances beyond the horizon?
Ground waves follow the curvature of the earth and ground wave propagation is
possibleat AM broadcast frequencies.SECTION 15.6
Why is HF radio propagation over long distances better during peaks in the sunspot
cycle?
The ionization level in the ionosphere is higher during peaks of solar
activity.SECTION 15.7
Why is antenna height important for line-of-sight propagation?
Greater antenna height increases the distance to the horizon.SECTION 15.8

Why is antenna height important in mobile communication, even when the

distances involvedare much less than the distance to the horizon?
Greater antenna height results in reduced multipath interference and fewer
obstructions inthe direct path.SECTION 15.9
Why is frequency reuse important in a cellular system?
Cellular systems increase their traffic capacity by reusing frequencies at relatively
smalldistances.

SECTION 15.10
Why is tropospheric ducting not used very much for practical communication
systems?
It is unreliable.
PROBLEMS
SECTION 15.1
29. Find the propagation velocity of radio waves in glass, which has a relative
permittivity of 7.8.
v=

= 107.42 x 10
6
m/sSECTION 15.2

30. Find the wavelength, in free space, of radio waves at each of the following
frequencies:a. 50 kHz b. 1 MHzc. 23 MHzd. 300 MHzf. 12 GHze. 450 MHz
a. 50 kHz
=

= 6000 mb. 1 MHz

=

= 300 mc. 23 MHz

=

= 13.04 md. 300 MHz

=

= 1 me. 450 MHz

=

= 0.67 mf. 12 GHz

=

= 0.025 m
31. Find the characteristic impedance of glass, which has a relative permittivity of
7.8.
Z=

= 134.99

32. An isotropic source radiates 100 W of power in free space. Calculate the power
density andthe electric field intensity at a distance of 15 km from the source.
P
D
=

= 35.37 nW/m
2

=

= 3.65 mV
33. What power density is required to produce an electric field strength of 100 volts
per meter inair?

P
D
=

= 26.53 W/m
2