Questions on “Tank Circuits" Handout

Due Wed. 10-2-02      Email to Mr. Rummel

Please answer the following in full sentences. Do so as an e-doc.

1. What, in general, causes radio waves to be generated?

2. What, in general, generates periodic signals? What is the best way such signals can be mathematically represented?

3. What is a tank circuit? What is it useful for?

4. What is resonance? Does it relate to “harmonic oscillation”? How does it apply to sending and receiving radio (or any Electromagnetic or EM wave signals)? Give an example.

5. Deduce the function of a capacitor from the illustration on the left margin of the page?

6. What is an inductor? What is it used for?

7. What factors limit the type of signal that can be generated by electrical circuits. Look at a) frequency, and b) strength of the signal.

8. What is a polarized EM signal?

9. Describe how AM radio signals transmit voice data. Why is it of a lower quality (has a lower SNR) than FM?

10. Describe how FM radio signals transmit voice data.

11. What part of the general sinusoid equation must the receiver alter in order to generate the effect of stereo? Please be specific.