Chapter 14

Transmission lines
Tutorial concepts:

Please note that all page references are not really that important,
but they help a lot if you have the book

• Introduction (P456)
o A transmission line is a pair of conductors that conduct
electronic energy (P510)
o Electrical model of a transmission line (P458)
 There are a few factors in consideration when it comes to
transmission lines
• The resistance of the line
1. Frequency
2. Magnetic field
3. Cross-sectional area
• Conductance of the dielectric (at low frequencies,
this can be neglected because it is quite small)
• RLC (see: introduction-> Types of cables-> coaxial
cables-> these cables are unbalanced lines(P459))
1. Resistance (exists within all conductors)
2. Inductance (exists within all conductors)
3. Capacitance (exists between any two
conductors)
 There are two types of models in transmission lines, the
balanced line and the unbalanced line
o Types of cables

 Coaxial cables (P510, P456)

• These cables are unbalanced lines (P459)

 Notice some things in this picture
G = dielectric conductance (it should be in Siemens but
it’s represented as a resistance in parallel)
C = the capacitance that exists between the two
parallel lines separated by the dielectric
R = internal cable resistance
L = cable inductance due to frequency

• Solid dielectric (P456)

• Air dielectric (P465)

 Parallel-line cables (P457)

• These cables are naturally balanced (P459)

 Notice some things in this picture
G = dielectric conductance (it should be in Siemens but
it’s represented as a resistance in parallel)
C = the capacitance that exists between the two
parallel lines separated by the dielectric
R = internal cable resistance
L = cable inductance due to frequency

• Television twin-lead

• Open-wire line

• Shielded-twin lead

 Twisted pair cable

• Characteristic Impedance
 The ratio between voltage and current on an infinitely long
transmission line (P510)
  In my own words: it is the virtual resistance as if the
transmission lines were infinitely long, this resistance plays
a part as kind of standard that kind of changes according
to certain factors as depicted in the following formula
(formula 14.1)

All these properties are per unit length

Zo = characteristic impedance
R = conductor resistance
L = inductance
G = dielectric constant (Siemens)
C = capacitance
ω = operating frequency

If the line were to be lossless, then R and G are both 0 and

then all we would have after manipulating the equation would
be

In example 14.1:
A coaxial cable has a capacitance of 90pF/m and a
characteristic impedance of 50Ω. Find the inductance of 1m
length:
We have Zo and we have C, if we solve for C with some basic
mathematics, we get L = 225 nH/m.

There are some methods to calculate characteristic

impedances in different types of transmission lines

In an air dielectric parallel line (check parallel lines in P459

or just some parts earlier in this script)

D = distance between the centers of the two conductors

r = radius of each conductor

(P461)
 Or in coaxial cables (check P456 or just some parts earlier in
this script)

Єr = relative permittivity of the dielectric, compared with

that of free space (dielectric constant)
D = inside diameter of outer cable (say if the outer cable is
a tube, this unit will take in consideration the diameter
closest to the dielectric)
d = diameter of the inner core cable

(P462)

• Velocity factor(P463)
o c = 300x106 m/s (speed of light!)
o the propagation velocity (velocity of which the signal passes
through the line) is just a bit slower than that of the speed of
light (P510)
o vf is the velocity factor which is the ratio between the
propagation velocity and the speed of light. The book says “ratio
of the speed of propagation on a line to that of light in free
space” (P510)
Therefore
(P463)
 A bit earlier, we were introduced to Єr, which is a lines dielectric
constant. Vf is almost entirely dependent on the dielectric used in
the line, as in

It is almost like vf is indirectly proportional to the dielectric constant

• Reflections(P464)
o Sometimes in transmission lines, some of the signal voltage is
reflected back from the load, this voltage reflects back and
return to the source, and does not dissipate as heat as many
think, it simply returns to the source and acts like a resisting
force against the incident signal (initial signal).
o It is vital for us to calculate the time it takes for the signal to
propagate through the line, so using the previous pointer on
velocity factors (sometimes, velocity factors will be produced in
the question paper and you will have to find the propagation
velocity).

To find time, it’s a simple formula (P465)

T = time for signal to travel length L

L = length of the line
Vp = propagation velocity on the line

o The Reflection Coefficient is the ratio of the reflected voltage

against the incident voltage. It is calculated as follows

(P466; Eq 14.9)

o On page 468,