WAVE PROPAGATION IN A TRANSMISSION LINE DEMONSTRATING THE EFFECTS OF LOSSES,

ATTENUATION AND STANDING WAVES

Course Code: Experiment No:

Group No.: Section:

Group Members: Date Performed:

Date Submitted:

Instructor:

1. Objective(s):

This activity aims to introduce the basic concepts of transmission line and its abnormalities and effects.
This experiment will provide the students to analyze how the electrical signal propagates inside the
transmission line and how it reacts to the irregularities on the line. This will also help the students to
understand the concept of characteristics impedance and reflection in transmission line.

2. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs): The students shall be able to:

2.1 Understand and explain the propagation of a signal in a match or non resonating line.

2.2 Determine the effects of losses, attenuation, and dispersion, on the amplitude, frequency and phase
of a signal.

2.3 Define characteristics impedance and reflections.

3. Discussion:

There are many situations in which it is desired to connect a generator (source of electrical power) to
distant load (power – absorbing device). The generator usually is of a high power source, as in a power
station, and the load is of low power, as with in a microphone; which maybe in of low frequency. Usually
the power station is a radio transmitter. In each case a pair of conductors is called a “transmission line”
or to simply a ‘line’ when convenient.

A transmission line is any two conductors with some length separated by a dielectric material. One
conductor is the signal path and the other is its return path. As the leading edge of a signal propagates
down a transmission line, the electric field strength between two oppositely charged conductors
creates a voltage between them. Likewise, the current passing through them produces a corresponding
magnetic field. A uniform transmission line terminated in its characteristic impedance will have a
constant ratio of voltage to current at a given frequency at every point on the line.
To ensure good signal integrity, it is important to maintain constant impedance at every point along the
way. Any change in the characteristic impedance results in reflections which manifests itself into noise
on the signal.

Transmission line characteristics are based on an infinite line. A line cannot always be terminated in its
characteristic impedance since it is sometimes operated as an open-ended line and other times as a
short-circuit at the receiving end. If the line is open-ended, it has a terminating impedance that is
infinitely large. If a line is not terminated in characteristic impedance, it is said to be finite. The energy
is not absorbed but is returned along the path available, which is the transmission line.

In mathematical treatment of a transmission line, all the properties (velocity of propagation,

attenuation, distortion of signals) are explain in terms of four ‘line constant’. These are: L = the
inductance of the line per unit distance (H/m) C = the capacitance of the line per unit distance (F/m) R
= the resistance of the line per unit distance (Ω/m) G = the conductance of the line per unit distance
(S/m)

The line constants in fact are only constant for a particular frequency, and may vary from one frequency
to another. However, the variations is not usually so rapid as to spoil the usefulness of the theory.

4. Equipment:

1-Transmission Line Demonstrator (TLD511)

1-Function Generator, Sine (eg Feedback VPG608)

1-600R Terminator 2-links 1-Extension Cord

5. Procedure: PART A: PROPAGATION IN A TRANSMISSION LINES

1. Set the TLD511 controls a follows:

I. hold/run set to ‘run’

II. line length set to ‘8L’

III. distributed attenuation set to ‘min’

2. Set the function generator’s output voltage to zero. The generator frequency should on a range
allowing continuous variation between 2 and 0.5 Hz. Set the frequency to 0.75Hz.
3. Connect up the system as shown in Figure 1.1

4. Operate the switch for ‘step input to A’ briefly until the light has appeared in the second column.
Observation:

5. Send the pulse from terminal ‘B’ to ‘A’ by operating ‘step input to B’. Observe that the pulse
disappear at the end. Why?

6. Change line length to 2L and raise the output voltages of the generator to give full height indication
in each column. Describe the shape of the wave:

7. Operate hold. What part of the wave is shown?

8. Release ‘hold’ and operate again at a different part of the input cycle: different parts of the sine
wave are displayed, but always the same fraction of a wavelength.
9. Release ‘hold’ again and raise the frequency gradually to 2Hz. Point out the reduce wavelength and
operate ‘hold’ again. Observation:

10. Determine v (for TLD511) using the formula 4L m/s where L is the length in meters. Find the
propagation time of the line of length L.

PART B: ATTENUATION AND DISPERSION

1. Set the TLD511 controls as follows:

I. Hold/run set to ‘run’

II. Line length set to ‘2L’

III. Distributed attenuation set to ‘min’

2. The generator frequency should on a range allowing continuous variation between 2 and 0.5Hz.
Choose a frequency about 1.75Hz.

3. Connect up the system as shown in Figure 1.2.

4. Raise the generator’s output voltage to give a traveling sine wave of full column amplitude. Point
out that amplitude is the same at all points in the line.

5. Gradually raise the distributed attenuation to ‘max’. Observation:

6. Reduce the frequency of the generator. Observation:

7. Disconnect the line connecting to the generator. Set the length to ‘8L’. Set the distributed
attenuation control about mid-way.

8. Operate the ‘step input to A’ switch until the second display column lights, to produce a travelling
pulse. Observation:

9. Repeat the various amounts of attenuation.

10. Transfer the 600R terminator to the ‘A’ end of the line. Operate the ‘step input to B’ switch.
Observation:
PART C: TERMINATIONS, SIMPLE CASES

1. Set the TLD511 controls as follows:

I. Hold/run set to ‘run’

II. Line length set to ‘2L’

III. Distributed attenuation set to ‘min’

2. Set the function generator’s output voltage to zero and its frequency to 1.5Hz.

3. Connect the equipment as shown in figure 2.1

4. Operate the switch for ‘step input to A’ briefly until the light has appeared in the second column. A
pulse, two columns wide as in Figure 2.2, will the travel to terminal ‘B’ end of the line and disappear.
Why?
5. This time remove the terminator from ‘B’ end of the line and send a pulse from ‘A’. Observe and
record results.

6. Place a short-circuit link across the line at ‘B’ (where the 600R terminator was) and again send a
pulse from ‘A’. Observe and record results.
7. Reconnect the set-up of Figure 2.1. Operate the ‘step input to ‘A’ switch to send a pulse from ‘A’,
then immediately operate it in the reverse direction to send a pulse from ‘B’. Record results below

8. Operate the ‘step input to A’ switch. Release only the switch after has reached ‘B’. When the line at
rest remove the 600R terminator. Observation:

9. Operate the ‘step input to A’ switch. Release only the switch after the reflected signal has returned
to ‘A’. Observation:

10. Repeat procedure 8 and 9 of part C, using short-circuit link at terminator ‘B’. Explain:

11. Set the line length ‘2L’. Replace the 600R terminator at ‘B’ (a value lower or higher than 600R).
12. Raise the function generator output to give a travelling wave of about half-scale amplitude.

13. Remove the terminator from B. Observe the standing wave.

14. Vary the frequency in the range ½ to 2Hz. Observe the change in wavelength and always a
maximum voltage at termination ‘B’.

15. Return the frequency to 1.5Hz. Plug in a short-circuit link in parallel with termination ‘B’. Observe
the places of the node and antinodes where they have changed locations.

6. Observation

7. Interpretation

8. Conclusion
9. Questions and Problems:

1. Give examples of causes of attenuation.

2. Compare the reflected wave in an open, short and properly matched line?

3. Why do we need to terminate a line at its characteristic impedance? What are the effects of not
doing so?

4. Why is an ordinary extension cord usually is not considered a transmission line, while a television
antenna of the same length would be?