P1. How Does AM Radio Work?

Find one or more sources on the internet

that explain how AM radio works. An example is the beginning of
this video (which also explains how FM radio works). In your own words,
explain how an AM signal is generated and how it is recovered at the receiver.
Sketch the waveform of an AM signal and explain what envelope detection
means.

P2. A Simple Envelope Detector for AM radio. Build the simple transistor
amplifier shown below in Multisim. This is essentially the same circuit you built
in problem P1 last week.

If the amplitude of the input signal is set to the value indicated in the
schematic, then the amplifier is overdriven and the output signal is clipped as
shown on the oscilloscope below.
At which value of the AC source voltage does clipping start for 0.1 MHz
sinusoids?

The simplest type of envelope detector for demodulating AM signals requires

taking the magnitude of the AM signal (e.g., by essentially cutting off all
negative voltages and keeping only the positive ones). If the simple amplifier
in the above schematic is overdriven such that it clips off the negative side of
the input signal, then it effectively acts as a AM demodulator (not perfect, but
working reasonably well). In the schematic below the sinusoidal voltage
source has been replaced by an AM voltage source (under "Signal Voltage
Sources" in Multisim).
Set the properties of the AM voltage source as shown next.
Now you should see the following signals on the oscilloscope.
The upper trace is the AM signal that is generated by the AM source. The
lower trace shows the clipped signal at the output of the overdiven transistor
amplifier.

The next schematic shows a slightly improved version of the AM demodulator.

A diode was added at the output to clip off some more of the negative
voltages. The RC circuit consisting of R4, C4, and load resistor R3 was added
to suppress the carrier frequency of the AM signal at the output of the
demodulator.
Determine the system function H(f)=Vout/Vin in terms of R3, R4, and C4 (not
the numerical values of these elements). Note that Vout and Vin are phasors
and that you have to use impedances to compute H(f), see the Frequency
Response of RC Circuits notes. Determine the -3dB frequency of this RC
filter. What is the gain G = |Vout|/|Vin| of this filter at f = 100 kHz and 1 MHz?

The oscilloscope screen shot below shows the AM signal at the input of the
demodulator (upper trace) and the demodulated output (lower trace).
By varying the carrier amplitude, determine what the minimum input voltage is
for which the AM demodulator produces a good demodulated signal when the
carrier frequency is 0.1 MHz.

Next, insert a resistance (R5) between the AM source and the demodulator
circuit as shown below.
Determine the input resistance of the AM demodulator at 0.1 MHz by
increasing R5 until the demodulated output signal is at one half of the value
that is obtained when R5 is set to zero.

P3. AM Radio Receiver Demodulator and Audio Amplifier. Now we return

to the LM386 audio amplifier that you used in the previous lab. A slightly
modified schematic is shown below.

Note the combination of R2 and C5. Is this a lowpass or a highpass filter?

what is its cutoff (-3 dB) frequency? What do you think is the function of this
RC filter? Also note the variable resistor (potentiometer) R1 that can be used
to adjust the volume of the amplifier. Check that your audio amplifier works by
displaying the input and output waveforms for the amplitude and frequency
values specified for the AC source.

Next, replace the AC source with the AM source as shown below.

Set the parameters of the AC source to the values shown below.
You should see the following waveforms on the oscilloscope. What do you
think you would hear at the output of the amplifier?
Finally, combine the AM demodulator and the audio amplifier as shown in the
next schematic.

The waveforms you should see on the oscilloscope at the input and the output
of this combined circuit are shown below.
By varying the carrier amplitude of the AM source, determine the range for
which the combination of AM demodulator and audio amplifier works as
intended at a carrier frequency of 0.1 MHz. What happens if you change the
carrier frequency to 1 MHz. Is the useful range of amplitudes te same or does
it change? If so, why?