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INFORMATION SYSTEMS STUDY NOTES

EMR: refers to waves of energy which are caused by the varying motions (speeding up, slowing
down and changing direction) of charges particles. The waves consist of vibrating electric and
magnetic fields. EM radiation comes from the sun, stars and galaxies. It can also be made by
humans, for example, for use in microwave ovens, walkie-talkies, infra-red remotes etc.
EM waves do not need a medium such as air through which to travel. (As sound waves
do.). EM waves can travel through empty space -a vacuum- at a uniform speed. Therefore, EM
waves act as wireless conductors of energy.

USE OF EMS FOR COMMUNICATION


TV remote uses infra red
RADAR uses microwaves, which are the main carriers of information between
repeater stations. e.g.: mobile phone towers, between satellites and ground stations
Optical fibre uses light waves
TV and radio use radio waves AM for sound and FM for picture
MASER is similar to LASER but uses microwaves instead of light

MICROWAVES AND RADIOWAVES IN COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES:


Advantages Disadvantages
Can travel through air without requiring a As waves travel in straight line, they can
medium such as a wire + is fast. be reflected, need a transmitter + repeater
Can be broadcasted over large distances. stations to go around corners and objects
They dont need people to be connected Broadcasting over a large area means
directly to on another or to the source of much energy is wasted
the information Receiver of signal must be tuned into the
Frequency in transmission and reception correct frequency
radio waves can be controlled Most effective FM in EM are limited

(3a)INFO TRANSMITTED THROUGH ATMOSPHERE OR SPACE


Communication can still be achieved when physical links (cables, optic fibres) are not possible,
by using EM waves, which carry information in the form of a code.
*A transmitting antenna produces waves that travel through air or space at great speed and over a
range of distances.
*A receiving antenna tuned to particular frequencies will detect the signal and relay this to the
receiving communication device.

GEOSTATIONARY SATELLITES Speed = distance time


Revolves at a height of 36,000km about Earths surface. Orbits with earth, 24hrs
*Satellites revolution must be the same as the Earths because the satellite must remain
over the same spot in order to maintain contact with ground stations
*Satellite dish must face the same direction and must remain at the same location with
respect to the surface of the Earth, as it is aimed at a particular satellite. The satellite the
dish is in contact with is always in the same relative position in the sky. The parabolic
shape of the dish focuses the signals into the central point
Microwave beams are sent from a ground station to a receiver satellite.
The area of the earth that can communicate with the satellite is called the satellites
FOOT PRINT. Each satellite can see 1/3 of the globe
The largest provider of international satellite services is INTELSAT

BARCODES
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Improve the speed and accuracy of data entry into computers. Barcodes are magnetic strips.
Barcodes are scanned by a laser beam. Light is directed towards the barcode, reflected back, and
recorded on a spinning holographic disk. The light pattern of the different widths of black and
white lines is detected. Each pattern of white and black lines represents a number->Digital signal.
AM AND FM
AM= height of the wave is change, FM= the wavelength/frequency is changed
CARRIER WAVE= a radio wave designed to be picked up by the tuning circuit of a
receiver, such as a radio or TV set.
MODULATOR= deliberately changes the wave into a signal

SENDING DIGITAL SIGNALS


Amplitude modulation= the voltage is either ON
(1) or OFF (0). This type of modulation will still
suffer distortion, but is easily reconstructed.
Frequency modulation= there is either shortened
wavelength (1) or normal wavelength (0)

CONVERSION: ANALOGUE TO DIGITAL


*analogue carries info through the air in the form of waves
*digital use a series of ON and OFF pulses that change the shape of the carrier wave
Step1: analogue (amplitude) wave signal is produced
Step2: amplitude is converted to a digital number by an Integrated Circuit called a Digital to
Analogue Converter (DAC).
Step3: this digital wave is then modulated onto a carrier wave and transmitted
Step4: when the digital code reaches the receiver, this process is reversed
27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 0
10000000 01000000 00100000 00010000 00001000 00000100 00000010 00000001

OPTICAL FIBRES electrical energy light energy


PROPERTIES:
An optical fibre is a single hair-like fine filament made from molten silica glass.
The fibres are constructed in such a way that light or infra red radiation can be
transmitted through them with minimal loss of light energy by total internal reflection.
A fibre optic cable is made up of a large number of individual optical fibres, bound
together around a central core.
Cladding refracts light even more so that it does not escape.
*As light travels through the tube it is reflected off the inner walls again and again. In this
process, some light energy leaves the tube (rod) and is lost every time the light rays are reflected.
The process of total internal reflection is used to stop this loss of light energy.
TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION: The complete reflection of a light wave as it hits the
boundary of a less dense medium. The angel of incidence must be greater than the critical
angle for the two media.
Total internal reflection occurs when the fibre is made up of different substances with different
densities, such as glass (a dense medium) and air (less dense). Light traveling from a denser
medium to a less dense medium is totally internally reflected and stays within the denser medium.
Total internal reflection means that light can be transmitted through optical fibres without
loss of energy. Images can be transmitted around corners and because light is carrying the
message, the speed and accuracy of the transmission is increased. Light can be transmitted even
when the even if the tube is curved.

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