Transmission Lines

Goals for todays lab:

1. Learn key transmission line ideas such as the concept of electrical length.
2. Study the parameters of RG-58 coaxial cables.
Procedure
Get 2 coaxial cables A and B. Measure the:
a. Cable length
b. Total cable capacitance
c. Total cable inductance
Use a short length of stripped solid wire in conjunction with a female to female adapter to more
readily access the inner conductor.
Question 1: From these measurements, estimate the distributed capacitance and distributed inductance
of the cable. Are these measured values comparable to the published specifications of RG-58 cable?
Question 2: Estimate the velocity factor of the cable. Is this comparable to RG-58 specifications?
Measure the phase difference (in temporal units) between the oscilloscope signals. Take a picture and
record the significant quantities. Convert the time delay data to phase difference units (radians).
Organize your results in table form, with delay and phase difference as a function of signal frequency.
Judiciously choose several values of signal frequency basing your choice on the physical length of the
cables. Varying the signal frequency changes the electrical lengths of the cables and hence the phase
differences.
Question 3: Is the phase difference measurable for all frequencies?
Question 4: Discuss the relationship between electrical length and the presence of a significant phase
difference.
Connect the function generator to channel 1 of the oscilloscope via cable A or B. Use a tee connector
and a 50-ohm terminator at the input end of the scope. Then take off the tee and the 50-ohm plug and
directly connect to the scope input. Take a picture and record the significant quantities.
Question 5: Explain the significance of the results above (with and without the 50-ohm plug).
Next, terminate the cable with a 30-ohm terminator and record your result. Replace the terminator with
a 100-ohm plug then record your result.
Question 6: Quantitatively explain the difference in measurements between the 3 terminators.
Question 7: State one or two other key learning goals of this lab experiment.