EC3551 - Transmission Lines and RF Systems

Unit I – Question Bank

UNIT I TRANSMISSION LINE THEORY
General theory of Transmission lines - the transmission line - general solution - The infinite line -
Wavelength, velocity of propagation - Waveform distortion - the distortion-less line - Loading and
different methods of loading - Line not terminated in Z0 - Reflection coefficient - calculation of
current, voltage, power delivered and efficiency of transmission - Input and transfer impedance -
Open and short circuited lines - reflection factor and reflection loss.
Part - A

1.Define characteristics impedance. What determines the characteristics impedance of a transmission line?
 The characteristic impedance Z0 of a uniform transmission line is the ratio of the
amplitudes of voltage and current of a single wave propagating along the line.

𝐸
𝑍𝑜 =
𝐼

𝑍 𝑅+𝑗𝜔𝐿
𝑍𝑜 = √𝑌 = √𝐺+𝑗𝜔𝐶

Where Z = R + jωL is series impedance

Y = G + jωC is shumt admittance

 Characteristic impedance is determined by the geometry and materials of the

transmission line and, for a uniform line, is not dependent on its length

2.Define transmission line.

A transmission line is a conductor that transfer energy or signal from one point to another. The different
types of transmission lines are
(i) Open wire line or Two wire parallel line
(ii) Twisted Pair Line
(iii) Coaxial Cable
(iv) Waveguides
(v) Fiber optic cables
3.Define reflection coefficient.

The ratio of amplitude of the reflected and incident voltage wave at the receiving end of
the line is called reflection coefficient. It is denoted by k.

𝑅𝑒𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑

Reflection Coefficient k =
𝐼𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑

𝑍𝑅 −𝑍𝑂
k=
𝑍𝑅 +𝑍𝑂
4.What are primary and secondary constants of a transmission line?
Primary constants:
The transmission line has four parameters R, L,C, G. These parameters are uniformly distributed along the
line. These parameters are called primary constants.
(i) Resistance (R) : Each conductor of transmission line has a certain length and diameter, it must have
resistance .
(ii) Inductance (L) : Since current will be present, the conductor will be surrounded and linked by
magnetic flux and this phenomena will demonstrate its effect in distributed inductance along the line
(iii) Capacitance ( C ) : The conductors are separated by insulating dielectric, so that capacitance will be
distributed along the conductor
(iv) Conductance (G) : The dielectric or the insulators of the open wire line, may not be perfect and a
leakage conductance will exist between the conductors.

Secondary Constants:
(i) Characteristics impedance ( 𝑍𝑜 )
(ii) Propagation constant (𝛾)
5.Define propagation constant.
 Propagation constant is defined as the natural logarithm of the ratio of sending end current to the receiving
end current

𝐼𝑠
𝛾 = ln ( )
𝐼𝑅

 The measure of the change in amplitude and phase per unit distance is called the
propagation constant.

𝛾 = 𝛼 + 𝑗𝛽
 – is called attenuation constant which indicate the rate at which the signal gets attenuated
along the line.

𝛽 – is called phase constant which indicates the rate at which phase of the signal gets changed
along the line.
6.What is meant by loading of transmission line? Or Why loading of transmission line is done?

 The process of increasing the inductance L of a line artificially is called loading of a line.
 Increasing inductance by inserting inductance in series with the line to avoid distortion is
called inductance loading of telephone cables.
7.Define reflection factor and return loss.
Reflection factor:

The ratio which indicates the change in current in the load due to reflection at the mismatched
junction is called reflection factor. It is denoted by K.
2√𝑍𝑅 𝑍𝑜
K = Reflection factor =
𝑍𝑅 +𝑍𝑜
Return loss:
The ratio of power at the receiving end due to incident wave and power due to reflected wave by the load is
called return loss.
𝑍 +𝑍
Return loss = 20 log |𝑍𝑅 −𝑍𝑂 | dB
𝑅 𝑂
8.Define wavelength of the line.

The distance the wave travels along the line, while the phase angle is changing through 2π radian is
called wave length.
2𝜋
Wavelength λ = ; Phase Constant
𝛽

9.What is a distortionless line? Give the condition for a distortionless line.

 A line in which there is no frequency or phase distortion and also it is correctly terminated
is called a distortionless line.
The conditions for distortionless line is
LG = RC
L/C = R/G
 The attenuation constant α should be made independent of frequency.
 The phase constant β should be made dependent of frequency.
 The velocity of propagation is independent of frequency

10.Outline the line parameters of a transmission line. Or Define the line parameters.
The transmission line has four parameters R, L,C, G. These parameters are uniformly distributed along the
line. These parameters are called primary constants.
(i) Resistance (R) : Each conductor of transmission line has a certain length and diameter, it must have
resistance .
(ii) Inductance (L) : Since current will be present, the conductor will be surrounded and linked by
magnetic flux and this phenomena will demonstrate its effect in distributed inductance along the line
(iii) Capacitance ( C ) : The conductors are separated by insulating dielectric, so that capacitance will be
distributed along the conductor
(iv) Conductance (G) : The dielectric or the insulators of the open wire line, may not be perfect and a
leakage conductance will exist between the conductors.
11.Define reflection loss.

The reflection loss is defined as the number of nepers or decibels by which the current in the load
under image matched conditions would exceed the current actually flowing in the load. The
reflection loss is reciprocal of reflection factor k.
𝑍𝑅 +𝑍𝑜
Reflection loss , neper = ln
2√𝑍𝑅 𝑍𝑜

𝑍𝑅 +𝑍𝑜
Reflection loss, db = 20log
2√𝑍𝑅 𝑍𝑜
12.llustrate the equivalent circuit of transmission line.

13.What is the significance of reflection coefficient?

 The reflection coefficient plays important role in analysis of RF transmission lines. It gives
the measure of mismatch between load and characteristics impedance of line.
 The ratio of amplitude of the reflected and incident voltage wave at the receiving end of
the line is called reflection coefficient. It is denoted by k.

𝑅𝑒𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑

Reflection Coefficient k = 𝐼𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑

𝑍 −𝑍
k= 𝑍𝑅 +𝑍𝑂
𝑅 𝑂

14.What is velocity of propagation or phase velocity?

Velocity of propagation is defined as the velocity with which a signal of single
frequency propagates along the line at particular frequency (f).It is denoted by the letter vp .
𝜔
Vp = 𝛽

15.Outline the expression for the phase constant and velocity of propagation for telephone cable.
The expression for the phase constant for telephone cable is

β = ω√𝐿𝐶
ω – frequency
L- Inductance
C- Capacitance
The expression for the velocity of propagation for telephone cable is
1
Vp =
√𝐿𝐶
 16.Outline the value of attenuation constant and velocity of propagation for telephone cables.
Th The value of attenuation constant for telephone cables are

𝜔𝑅𝐶
α=√ 2

The velocity of propagation for telephone cables are

𝜔𝑅𝐶
β=√ 2

2𝜔
vp= √ 𝑅𝐶

17.What is frequency distortion?

The attenuation constant α is a function of frequency. Hence the different frequencies transmitted
along the line will be attenuated to the different extent. For example, a voice signal consists of many
frequencies and all these frequencies will not be attenuated equally along the transmission line.
Hence received signal will not be exact replica of the input signal at the sending end. Such a
distortion is called a frequency distortion.
W 18.What is finite line? Write down the significance of this line?
A finite line is a line having a finite length on the line. It is a line, which is terminated in its
characteristics impedance (ZR = ZO) so that the input impedance of the finite line is equal to the
characteristics impedance (ZS = ZO ).
19.What is phase distortion?The phase constant β varies with frequency. Thus the velocity of
propagation of waves also varies with frequency. Hence some waves will reach receiving end very
fast while some waves will get delayed than the others. Hence all frequencies will not have same
transmission time. Thus the output wave at the receiving end will not be exact replica of the input
wave at the sending end .This type of distortion is called phase distortion or delay distortion.
PART – B

1 What are the salient aspects of primary constants of a two wire transmission line? Develop the voltage
and current expressions of two wire transmission line. Or Define transmission line parameters and derive
the transmission line equations from the equivalent circuit representation. Or Identify the general
transmission line equation for the voltage and current at any point on a transmission line.

2 Explain in detail about the waveform distortion and also derive the condition for distortion less
line. How can a transmission line be made distortion less?
3 Develop the equation of attenuation constant and phase constant of transmission line interms of
line constants R, L,C and G.
4 Explain the theory of open and short circuited lines and also derive all expressions for input
impedance. Or Identify the input impedance of an open circuited and short circuited transmission lines.
5 (i) Explain in detail about the reflection on a line not terminated by its characteristics impedance Z0
(ii) Explain about different types of transmission line.

6 Explain in detail about lumped loading and derive the Campbell’s equation. Or Explain loading and
different types loading.

7 Discuss the following

(i) Reflection factor and reflection loss.
(ii) Input and Transfer impedance
(ii) Wavelength and velocity of propagation.