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AS and A Level Physics Original material Cambridge University Press 2010 1

33 Worksheet (A2)
1 Two amplitude-modulated radio waves are shown. Each wave has the same carrier frequency and
is carrying an audio signal.








a State and explain one similarity and one difference between the audio signals
that they carry. [4]
b Explain how the graphs show that the carrier frequency is the same. [1]
2 a Describe the difference between amplitude and frequency modulation. [2]
b A carrier wave has a frequency 800 kHz. It is modulated in frequency by an audio signal
of frequency 6 kHz and amplitude 2.0 V.
The frequency deviation of the carrier wave is 30 kHz V
1
.
i Determine the maximum frequency shift produced. [1]
ii Determine the minimum frequency of the modulated carrier wave. [1]
iii Describe how the frequency of the carrier wave changes. [1]
c A country intends to start a new broadcasting system. State two reasons why it is more
expensive to set up an FM broadcasting system rather than an AM system. [2]
3 The graph shows the frequency spectrum of an AM radio wave carrying an audio signal
of a single frequency.

a i State the name of the component with frequency 40 kHz. [1]
ii State the name of the components with frequency 35 and 45 kHz. [1]
iii Determine the frequency of the audio signal. [1]
b i Calculate the time for one complete carrier wave. [1]
ii Calculate the time for one complete wave of the audio signal. [1]
iii Sketch a graph of the variation of the signal with time. On your graph mark the values
obtained in b i and b ii. [3]
c The frequency spectrum shown above is formed from a carrier wave and an audio signal
of one frequency. Draw the frequency spectrum formed at one instant if the audio signal
contains a range of frequencies up to 15 kHz. [2]
35 Frequency / kHz 40 45
33 Worksheet (A2)
AS and A Level Physics Original material Cambridge University Press 2010 2
4 Data is often produced as an analogue signal and then converted into digital form
for transmission.
a Explain, with the aid of sketch graphs, the difference between an analogue and
a digital signal. [4]
b Explain the process of sampling in which an analogue signal is turned into
a digital signal. [3]
5 The diagram shows the analogue signal from a microphone.

For transmission, the signal is digitally sampled every 0.5 ms starting at time t = 0 s.
In the analogue-to-digital (ADC) converter,
0 to 0.99 mV produces a digital output 0000
1 to 1.99 mV produces a digital output 0001
and so on.
a State the value of the digital out put when t = 0 s and when t = 0.5 ms. [2]
b The digital signal from the ADC is eventually converted back into analogue form.
Draw a sketch diagram showing the final analogue signal produced. [3]
c i Explain how increasing the sampling frequency improves the final analogue signal
produced and suggest a suitable maximum value for the sampling frequency. [3]
ii Telephone systems use 8-bit numbers, rather than 4-bit numbers. Explain why this
improves the final analogue signal produced. [2]
6 A laser provides power input of 6.0 mW into an optic fibre, where the average noise is
2.0 10
19
W. Calculate the signal-to-noise ratio in dB. [1]
7 A signal has a power of 1.0 mW and a noise of 0.001 mW.
a What is the signal-to-noise ratio in dB? [1]
b The signal is attenuated by 30 dB and the noise remains constant.
What is the new signal-to noise ratio in dB? [2]
33 Worksheet (A2)
AS and A Level Physics Original material Cambridge University Press 2010 3
8 In the modern telephone system, more and more coaxial cable has been replaced for
long-distance transmission of telephone signals by optic fibre.
State and explain two reasons for this change. [4]
9 a State a typical value of wavelength for:
i space waves
ii sky waves. [2]
b Explain why satellite communication is more reliable than a sky wave for long-distance
communication between two points on the Earths surface. [2]
10 a Describe the orbit of a geostationary satellite. [3]
b State a typical wavelength for communication between the Earths surface and a
geostationary satellite. [1]
c State one advantage and one disadvantage of the use of a geostationary satellite
rather than a satellite in polar orbit for telephone communication. [2]
11 In the original telephone system of 1876, every telephone was connected to every other
telephone by a pair of wires. Today the telephone is used worldwide as the result of the
invention of the exchange and the use of sampling using digital electronics.
Describe how each of these developments has meant that many telephone conversations
can take place at once. [4]

Total:
61
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