EC8651 TRANSMISSION LINES AND RF SYSTEMS

TWO MARKS QUESTION & ANSWERS

UNIT I-TRANSMISSION LINE THEORY

1. Define the line parameters? May 2018

The parameters of a transmission line are:
Resistance (R)
Inductance (L)
Capacitance (C)
Conductance (G)
Resistance (R) is defined as the loop resistance per unit length of the wire. Its unit is ohm/Km
Inductance (L) is defined as the loop inductance per unit length of the wire. Its unit is Henry/Km
Capacitance (C) is defined as the loop capacitance per unit length of the wire. Its unit is Farad/Km
Conductance (G) is defined as the loop conductance per unit length of the wire. Its unit is mho/Km

2. What are the secondary constants of a line? Why the line parameters are called distributed elements?
Secondary constants of a line are: Characteristic Impedance, Propagation Constant
Primary constants - Since the line constants R, L, C, G are distributed through the entire length of the line,
they are called as distributed elements. They are also called as primary constants.

3. Define Characteristic impedance and JUNE 2016, DEC 2017

Characteristic impedance is the impedance measured at the sending end of the line. It is given by
Z0 = √(Z/Y), where Z = R + jωL is the series impedance Y = G + jωC is the shunt admittance

4. What is a finite line? Write down the significance of this line?

A finite line is a line having a finite length on the line. It is a line, which is terminated, in its characteristic
impedance (ZR=Z0), so the input impedance of the finite line is equal to the characteristic impedance (Zs=Z 0).

5. What is an infinite line?

An infinite line is a line in which the length of the transmission line is infinite. A finite line, which is
terminated in its characteristic impedance, is termed as infinite line. So for an infinite line, the input impedance
is equivalent to the characteristic impedance.

6. What is meant by frequency distortions?

When a signal having many frequency components are transmitted along the line, some frequencies
attenuated more than other frequencies distortion is called frequency distortion.
To avoid the frequency distortion a) The attenuation constant α should be made independent of
frequency. b) By using equalizers at the line terminals.

7. What is meant by Phase or Delay Distortion? How to avoid Phase or Delay Distortion?
When a signal having many frequency components are transmitted along the line, some frequencies
delayed more than other frequencies is called phase or delay distortion.

a) The phase constant β should be made dependent of frequency.

b) The velocity of propagation is independent of frequency.
c) By using equalizers at the line terminals.
8. What is Loading?
Loading is the process of increasing the inductance value by placing lumped inductors at specific intervals along
the line, which avoids the distortion

9. What are the types of loading?

a) Continuous loading - The process of increasing the inductance value by placing a iron core or a magnetic
tape over the conductor of the line.
b) Patch loading - It is the process of using sections of continuously loaded cables separated by sections of
unloaded cables
c) Lumped loading - placing lumped inductors at specific intervals along the line

10. Define reflection coefficient

Reflection Coefficient can be defined as the ratio of the reflected voltage to the incident voltage at the
𝑍𝐿−𝑍𝑂
receiving end of the line Reflection Coefficient. K= ------------2 mark problem by using this
𝑍𝐿+𝑍𝑂
formula
11. What are the conditions for a perfect line? What is a smooth line? MAY 2017
For a perfect line, the resistance and the leakage conductance value were neglected. The conditions for a perfect
line are R=G=0. A smooth line is one in which the load is terminated by its characteristic impedance and no
reflections occur in such a line. It is also called as flat line.

12. Find the characteristics impedance of line at 1600 Hz if Zoc = 750 ˪ -30 and Zsc = 600 ˪ -20. DEC 2016
Zo = √𝒁𝒐𝒄 . 𝒁𝒔𝒄 Zo = 670.8 ˪-25

13. Define Reflection loss. June 2016, May 2018

The number of nepers or decibels by which the current in the load under matched conditions would
exceed the current actually current actually flowing in the load.

14. What is meant by distortion less line? DEC 2016, May 2018, Dec 2018
The line without having frequency distortion and delay distortion is called distortion less line.

15. A Transmission line has Zo = 745 ˪-12 ohms and terminated at 100 ohms. Calculate reflection factor.
MAY 2017

2√𝑍1∗ 𝑍2
Reflection factor k = | 𝑍1+𝑍2
| = 0.647

UNIT II-HIGH FREQUENCY T RANSMISSION LINES

16. State the assumptions for the analysis of the performance of the radio frequency line. June 2016, May
2018
1. Due to the skin effect, the currents are assumed to flow on the surface of the conductor. The internal
inductance is zero.
2. The resistance R increases with square root off while inductance L increases with f . Hence ωL>>R.
3. The leakage conductance G is zero

17. What are nodes and antinodes on a line? DEC 2017

The points along standing waves where magnitude of voltage or current is zero are called nodes while the
points along the standing waves where magnitude of voltage or current first maximum are called antinodes or
 loops.

18. What are standing waves? JUNE 2016, MAY 2017

If the transmission line is not terminated in its characteristic impedance, then the incident and reflected
waves are combined to form the standing waves along the line.

19. What is standing wave ratio? JUNE 2016, MAY 2017

The ratio of the maximum to minimum magnitudes of voltage or current on a line having standing waves
1+ |𝐾| 𝑆−1
called standing waves ratio. SWR = Note : K= --2 mark problem by using this
1− |𝐾| 𝑆+1
formulas
20. Define insertion loss. Dec 2018
The ratio of incident power to transmitted power is the insertion loss.

21. A Lossless line has characteristics impedance of 400 ohms. Calculate SWR if receiving end impedance
is of 800+j0.0 ohms. MAY 2017
1+ |𝐾| 𝑍𝐿−𝑍𝑜
SWR = |𝐾| K= K = 0.33 SWR = 1.98
1− 𝑍𝐿+𝑍𝑜

22. What is the range of values of standing wave ratio and Reflection coefficient?
SWR - 1 to infinity. K= -1 to +1

23. A lossless transmission line has shunt capacitance of 100 pF and a series inductance of 4 µH. Determine
the characteristics impedance. DEC 2015
𝑳 𝟒 𝑿 𝟏𝟎 −𝟔
Zo = √𝑪 =√𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝑿 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐 = 200 ohms

24. For the line of zero dissipation, what will be the value of attenuation constant and characteristic
impedance.
DEC 2015, DEC 2017
𝑳
α=0 Zo = √𝑪

25. Give the input impedance of dissipation less open and short-circuited lines. DEC 2016, May 2018
The input impedance of open circuited lines Zoc = -j Ro Cot βl and short circuited lines Zsc = j Ro tan βl.

26. How will you make standing wave measurements on coaxial lines?
For coaxial lines it is necessary to use a length of line in which a longitudinal slot, one half wavelength or
more long has been cut. A wire probe is inserted into the air dielectric of the line as a pickup device, a vacuum
tube voltmeter or other detector being connected between probe and sheath as an indicator. If the meter provides
linear indications, S is readily determined. If the indicator is non linear, corrections must be applied to the
readings obtained.

27. Why the point of voltage minimum is measured rather than voltage maximum?
The point of a voltage minimum is measured rather than a voltage maximum because it is usually possible
to determine the exact point of minimum voltage with greater accuracy.
 UNIT-III IMPEDANCE MATCHING IN HIGH FREQUENCY LINES

28. What is the use of eighth wave line? DEC 2016

An eighth wave line is used to transform any resistance to an impendence with a magnitude equal to
the characteristics of the line. |𝑍𝑠| = 𝑅𝑜

29. What is the meant by impedance matching?

The matching of line or characteristics impedance Z0 with the load impedance for maximum power
transfer to the load is known as impedance matching.

30. What is the application of the quarter wave matching section? Why is a quarter wave lines called as
impendence inverter? DEC 2015, JUNE 2016, MAY 2017, Dec 2018
1.Impedance inverter 2. Impedance matching for real and complex impedances
A quarter wave lines may be considered as an impendence inverter because it can transform a low
impendence in to a high impendence and vice versa.

31. Why is a quarter wave lines called as impendence inverter? DEC 2017
A quarter wave lines may be considered as an impendence inverter because it can transform a low
impendence in to a high impendence and vice versa.

32. Bring out the significance of a half wavelength line.

A half wavelength line may be considered as a one to one transformer. It has its greatest utility in connecting
load to a source in cases where the load source cannot be made adjacent.

33. What is a stub? Why it is used in between transmission lines? JUNE 2016, May 2018
Stub is a piece or section of transmission. It is used for impedance matching. In the method of impendence
matching using stub, an open or closed stub line of suitable length is used as a reactance shunted across the
transmission line at a designated distance from the load which has resistance equal to Zo.

34. Why short-circuited stub preferred over open circuited stub. MAY 2017
1. Radiation loss is less.
2. Its effective length can be varied by a shorting bar.

35. Difference between single and double stub matching. DEC 15, DEC 2016
S.No Single stub Matching Double Stub Matching
1. It uses single stub for matching It uses two stubs for matching
2. The stub have to inserted at particular The distance of the stub is arbitrary.
distance
3. Very narrow bandwidth or single Bandwidth is higher compared to single stub.
frequency

36. Disadvantages of single stub matching.

1. Very narrow bandwidth or single frequency
2. The stub have to inserted at particular distance
3. It is only applicable for open wire lines.

37. Why double stub matching is used for coaxial cable?

In Coaxial cable it is difficult to obtain location of Vmin without slotted line and placement of stub is
difficult.
38. What is smith chart? Mention its applications. May 2018
Smith chart is a graphical tool used for analyzing and solving transmission line problems. It
consists of Constant resistance circle, constant reactance circles, Wavelength and angle of reflection
coefficient. Applications – To find

39. Why Double stub matching is preferred over single stub matching.
Double stub matching is preferred over single stub due to following disadvantages of single stub.
1. Single stub matching is useful for a fixed frequency. So as frequency changes the location of single stub
will have to be changed.
2. The single stub matching system is based on the measurement of voltage minimum. Hence for coaxial line
it is very difficult to get such voltage minimum, without using slotted line section.

40. What are the difficulties in single stub matching?

The difficulties of the smith chart are
(i) Single stub impedance matching requires the stub to be located at a definite point on the line. This
requirement frequently calls for placement of the stub at an undesirable place from a mechanical view point.
(ii) For a coaxial line, it is not possible to determine the location of a voltage minimum without a slotted line
section, so that placement of a stub at the exact required point is difficult.
(iii) In the case of the single stub it was mentioned that two adjustments were required, these being location
and length of the stub.

41. What is double stub matching?

Another possible method of impedance matching is to use two stubs in which the locations of the stub are
arbitrary, the two stub lengths furnishing the required adjustments. The spacing is frequently made λ/4.This is
called double stub matching.