All communication systems require a source and a receiver.

Sound can be transmitted 1 directly through air as in (a) directly

2 through alternating currents induced in a moving-coil microphone
and received by a moving coil speaker as illustrated in (b).
3 through radio waves by simply amplifying the audio signal and
applying it to a suitable aerial as illustrated in (c).

However, radio wave communication causes two fundamental problems:

 only one radio station could operate in the region because the wave from a second
station operating would interfere with the first,
 the aerial required to transmit frequencies in the audio range (20 Hz to 20 kHz) would
be both very long and inefficient (the radio waves would not travel very far unless huge
powers were used).

Both of these problems are solved by the process of modulation.

Modulation is the process in which a low frequency signal (called modulating signal is
superimposed over high frequency signal (called carrier wave) in such a way that amplitude,
frequency of carrier wave changes in accordance with the modulating wave, i e
Modulation is the variation of either the amplitude or the frequency of the carrier wave

In modulation a high frequency wave known as the carrier wave has either its amplitude or
frequency altered by the information signal in order to carry the information. Diagram A shows a
carrier wave, while B shows an information signal that is superimposed on carrier wave.
Diagrams C and D show the resultant amplitude modulated and frequency modulated waves
respectively.

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A

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  The use of a carrier wave allows different radio stations in the same area/region to
transmit simultaneously.
 Each station transmits on a different carrier frequency and consequently the carrier waves
do not interfere with one another. This is because any one receiver is tuned to the
frequency of a particular carrier wave. The receiver then responds to/recognizes the
information signal.

Advantages of Modulation over Direct:

 Shorter aerial required
 Longer transmission range
 Less attenuation
 Allows more than one station in a region
 Less distortion
Amplitude Modulation (AM)
 For amplitude modulation (AM), the amplitude of the carrier wave is made to vary in
synchrony with the displacement of the information signal
 The frequency of the carrier wave does not vary
 The amplitude of the signal must be less than half of the amplitude of the carrier wave
 The variation in the amplitude of the carrier wave is a measure of the displacement of the
information signal
 The rate at which the carrier amplitude varies is equal to the frequency of the information
signal
Sidebands
Diagram below shows the waveform resulting from the amplitude modulation of a high
frequency carrier wave by a signal that consists of a single audio frequency

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Analysis of the diagram shows that, an amplitude modulated wave consists of three
components:
i. Original carrier wave of frequency 𝑓𝑐 and amplitude 𝐴𝑐
ii. A wave of frequency 𝑓𝑐 − 𝑓𝑎 and amplitude
iii. A wave of frequency 𝑓𝑐 + 𝑓𝑎 and amplitude

The central frequency fc is that of the high-frequency carrier wave.

The other two are known as sidebands and for the AM waveform, they occur at frequencies
given by

𝑓𝑐 − 𝑓𝑎, and 𝑓𝑐 + 𝑓𝑎 respectively

where fa is the frequency of the audio signal.

The relative amplitude of the sidebands and the carrier depends on the relative amplitudes of the
audio and the carrier waveforms. If there is no audio frequency signal, there are no sidebands!

The range of frequencies from the min to max in modulated carrier wave is called its
bandwidth.
Bandwidth = (𝑓𝑐 + 𝑓𝑎 ) − (𝑓𝑐 − 𝑓𝑎) = 2𝑓𝑎

Wavelength of carrier wave =

Frequency Modulation (FM)

 For frequency modulation (FM), the frequency of the carrier wave is made to vary in
synchrony with the displacement of the information signal
 The amplitude of the carrier wave does not vary

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 The change in frequency of the carrier wave is a measure of the displacement of the
information signal
 The rate at which the carrier wave frequency is made to vary is equal to the frequency of
the information signal
Comparison of AM and FM

Amplitude Modulation (AM)

ADVANTAGES
 Smaller bandwidth so more stations
available in frequency range
 Greater area covered by one transmitter
 Cheaper radio sets
DISADVANTAGES
 Requires a high power transmitter
 More electrical noise and interference

Frequency Modulation (FM)

PROS CONS
 Less electrical noise and interference  Shorter range
 Greater bandwidth produces better  More complex circuitry
quality sound  More expensive

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Advantages of AM and FM

Worked example
A radio station transmits at a frequency of 200 kHz. The maximum bandwidth is 9 kHz.