Ho Chi Minh City

University of Transport
English for Electronic Engineering
Unit 2: Radio
(Part 2)
Vocabulary
VOCABULARY MEANING
amplitude biên độ
modulated điều biến
vary biến thiên
block of diagram biểu đồ khối của hệ thống
amplified khuếch đại
detector bộ tách sóng
loudspeaker loa
inductance coil cuộn cảm
parallel song song
winding on quấn quanh
oscillation bộ dao động
impedance trở kháng
 2. Word study Word formation
Study the verb and two related nouns below. One noun is used for a component. The
other is an abstract noun used for property.
amplify amplified amplification
Task 7: With the help of reading passage, earlier units, and your own
knowledge, fill the gaps in this table.
Verb Noun Noun (property)
(component)
absorb _ absorption
attenuate attenuator attenuation
communicate communication
conduct conductor conductivity
induce inductor inductance
modulate modulator modulation
reflect reflector reflection
resist resistor resistance
 3. Technical reading Radio
Task 9:

Explain the abbreviations. Check your answer by looking quickly

through the text below.
1. AF = Audio Frequency
2. RF = Radio Frequency
3. AM = Amplitude Modulated
4. FM = Frequency Modulated
 3. Technical reading Radio
Radio frequency (RF) waves are used to carry audio frequency
(AF) waves over long distances through the air. The audio signals
can be combined with the RF carrier wave in such a way that it
varies the amplitude of the carrier. This gives an amplitude
modulated (AM) carrier wave (see Fig. 1).
 3. Technical reading Radio
In a frequency-modulated (FM) wave, the audio signal is combined with
the RF carrier wave to vary the frequency of the carrier (see Fig. 2).
 3. Technical reading Radio

The block diagram of a radio is shown in Fig. 3 below. The tuner

selects the required RF wave from those picked up by the aerial.
The selected RF wave is amplified and passed to the detector,
which separates the audio modulation from the RF carrier wave.
The audio frequency amplifier then amplifies the audio signal to
make it strong enough to drive the loudspeaker.
 3. Technical reading Radio
Tuner
A typical radio tuner circuit consists of an inductor and capacitor
connected in parallel (see Fig. 4). The size of aerial inductance
coil can be kept small by winding it on a ferrite rode core.
 3. Technical reading Radio
The RF waves fed to the tuner cause the circuit to
oscillate. The impedance of the circuit is smallest and
the oscillation is greatest at aa particular frequency
known as the resonant frequency. This frequency is
determined by the values of the inductance and the
capacitance. By using a variable capacitor, the circuit
can be tuned to the required radio frequency, and the
selected RF wave passed on to the RF amplifier.
 3. Technical reading Radio
Task 10: Identify the waves. Use these terms:

4/ RF carrier 2/ AM carrier

3/ AF signal 1/ FM carrier
 3. Technical reading Radio

Task 11:
Explain what happens at each stage in this flowchart, which
shows how a radio works. The first and last stage are done for
you.
 3. Technical reading Radio
Component Function
1 aerial Receives weak RF signals

2 RF tuner Select the required RF wave

3 RF amplifier Amplifies the selected RF wave

4 detector Separates the audio modulation from the RF carrier wave

5 AF amplifier Amplifies the audio signal

Converts the audio signal into sound

6 loudspeaker
 4. Writing Describing a process
When describing a process. It can be useful first to make a
flowchart like the one in Task 11. Showing the stages in the
correct sequence. You can then espand the flowchart to include
a brief description of what happens at each stage
The next step is to turn your flowchart into a written
description. You can help your reader by marking the order of
the stages with sequence markers. The most common markers
are:
Firstly Next Following that
Then After that Finally
 4. Writing Describing a process
We can summarize this advice with a flowchart

Make a flowchart showing the main

stages

Add a brief description of each stage

Turn the flowchart into a full

description

Add sequence markers to guide your

readers
 4. Writing Describing a process

Task 12
Describe how s radio deals with a radio signal. Base your
description on the flowchart in Task 11
 4. Writing Describing a process
Firstly, the antenna receives weak RF signals. Then the
RF tuner selects the required RF wave. After that, the
selected RF wave is amplified by the RF amplifier. Next,
the detector separates the audio modulation from the RF
carrier wave. Following that, the audio signal is
amplified by the AF amplifier. Finally, the loudspeaker
converts the audio signal into sound.