Chapter 8: Electronics and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) 8.1 Radio Waves 1.

Waves are produces through the vibrations or oscillations of a system. 2. Waves travel in straight lies and can be reflected and refracted.

3. Transverse waves are waves that cause particles in a medium to vibrate perpendicular to the direction that the waves are travelling. Eg; all electromagnetic waves, water waves and light waves. 4.

Amplitude The maximum displacement of a wave from its original position. Wavelength - The distance between two successive crests of waves. (m) Frequency - The number of complete waves generated in one second. (Hz/m-1) Velocity The distance travelled by a wave in one second. (v = ) 5.

6. All electromagnetic waves travel at the speed of light which is 3 x 108 ms-1. 7. Radio waves are used in the communication of information because they: (a) Travel at the speed of light (b) Travel in a vacuum (c) Are not easily obstructed by mountains and absorbed by atmosphere as radio waves can be reflected, refracted or diffracted. 8. Very low frequency, low frequency, medium frequency and high frequency AM radio broadcasting. Very high frequency FM radio broadcasting.

Ultra high frequency Television and cellular telephone Super high frequency, extremely high frequency television, radar,cellular telephone, communication satellite. Radio waves for radios Radio waves for radios are short or medium that is reflected back to earth by ionosphere and they can travel very fast over long distances. Low frequency and medium frequency are amplitude modulated. Amplitude of the waves is changed according to the information that is transmitting. High frequency waves are frequency modulated. The frequency of the wave is changed according the information transmitting. Radio waves for television Waves travel in straight line. They cannot be transmitted smoothly over long distance as they are blocked by the Earths curved surface. Hence, relay stations are constructed to receive and transmit waves to the next relay station. Radio waves for satellite communication Waves are sent and received between satellite stations and the Earth. Satellite stations receive signals from Earth, strengthen the signals and resent the signals back to Earth. Some satellite does not strengthen the signals received but reflect the signals back to Earth in a different direction.

8.2 Radio Communication 1. The radio communication system consists of: (a) A radio transmission system (b) A radio receiver system 2. Resistor reduce/ controls the electric current flow in a circuit. Capacitor stores electric charges and blocks flow of direct current and allows alternation current to pass through it. Variable capacitor is used for changing the frequency of radio waves. Inductor - opposes the changes in current in an electric circuit. Induces electric current when there are changes in magnetic field and vice versa. Diode changes alternating current to direct current. Allows current to flow in one direction only. Transistor - as an automatic switch. Amplifies electric current or voltage. Magnifies amplitude of audio waves.

Transformer Increases or decreases the voltage of alternating current.

Radio Transmission System Carrier wave oscillator

Sound waves (microphone)

Amplifier

Modulator

Amplifier

Aerial

Audio waves
Radio Reception System

Modulated carrier waves

Aerial (modulated carrier waves)

Tuner

Amplifier

Demodulator

Amplifier

Loud speaker

Selected modulated carrier waves

radio waves and audio waves separated