Cambridge International A Level Physics

Answers to end-of-chapter questions

Answers to EOC questions

Chapter 20

(P )
( )

3 a
Attenuation = 10lg P2 
1
1.26
= 10lg 1.12 = 0.51dB

1 a

[1]
[1]

b Attenuation per unit length = 0.51

60 [1]
3
3
1
= 8.5310 8.510 dBm [1]

(P )

4 a
Number of decibels = 10lg P2 [1]
1
P2
100 = 10lg 6.010
12 [1]

The carrier wave has a higher frequency than

the signal.
[1]
The amplitude of the signal is used to change
or modulate the amplitude of the carrier
wave.[1]
The height of the carrier wave is made to fall
and rise with the actual value of the signal.[1]
b

The carrier wave has a higher frequency than

the signal.
[1]
The amplitude of the signal is used to alter
the frequency of the carrier wave.
[1]
Thus the frequency of the transmitted wave
is the frequency of the carrier wave, but it
varies at any time according to the amplitude
of the signal at that time.
[1]
2 a i An analogue signal is any continuous
signal where the quantity, for example, a
voltage, varies in time with the signal. In
principle, any small change in the quantity
causes a small change in the signal, i.e. the
signal can have any value
[2]
ii The bandwidth of a signal is the range of
frequencies present in a signal.
[1]
b The bandwidth of the microphone is less
than the range of audible frequencies, which
is approximately 20Hz to 20kHz. This means
that the microphone will not reproduce high
frequencies and, for example, music will not be
of high quality, although the microphone may
be suitable for speech or for a telephone.
[2]

P2 = 6.010 W (60mW)
b Allowed attenuation of optic fibre
= 10030 = 70dB
70 = 233 230km
Length of fibre = 0.3

[1]
[1]
[1]

5 a
A satellite in geostationary orbit around the
Earth takes 24 hours to make an orbit. It travels
above the equator, travelling in the same
direction as the rotation of the Earth and, from
the Earth, appears to be above the same point
on the equator. The satellite is at a height of
3.6104km above the Earths surface.
[2]
b Between 0.001 and 0.300m
[1]
c Advantage:
Satellite dishes do not need to be moved to
track the satellite.
[1]
Disadvantages:
Communication with some polar regions is
not possible.
[1]
The satellite is always above the same point
on the equator and cannot see other parts
of the Earth.
[1]
The satellite is higher above the equator
and so the signal is delayed longer and is of
lower intensity than a polar satellite, and the
resolution when viewing the Earth is lower. [1]
6 a
The braid in a coaxial cable is the return path
for the signal and is usually connected to
earth (ground).
[1]
By surrounding the central wire, it reduces
the amount of external interference received
by the inner conductor.
[1]
b Increased bandwidth has meant that many
telephone calls can be carried on the same
line.[1]
c i Noise is the random variation in a received
signal not present in the original signal. [1]

Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics Cambridge University Press 2014

Cambridge International A Level Physics

Answers to end-of-chapter questions

ii Examples of noise sources include: radio

emissions from the spark plug of a nearby
car, a nearby mobile phone and the
random thermal motion of electrons in a
wire.[2]
7 Surface waves, frequency below 3MHz, range
up to 1000km
[2]
Space waves, frequency greater than 30MHz,
range is line-of-sight only, except when using
satellite and then range is worldwide
[2]
Sky waves, frequency between 3 and 30MHz, 10

range is worldwide by reflection
[2]
8 a
Time for one oscillation of the carrier wave
= 80
[1]
8 = 10s
Frequency = T1 =

1
6
(1010 )

(8010 )
4

= 12.510 Hz 12 or 13kHz

[1]

100

112.5

a i Attenuation from cable = 2010
= 200dB
ii 440 = 160dB
b Total attenuation = 200160 = 40dB
200
40 = 10lg P

( )
out

= 1.0105Hz (100kHz)
[1]
b Time for one oscillation of the audio signal
= 80s
[1]
1
1
Frequency = T =
6

87.5

between, for example, 3.1 and 3.3, will be

taken as 3.2V.[1]
ii The signal should have more bits, for
example use an 8-bit binary number, so
that the sample is accurate to a smaller
value than 0.2V.
[1]
The samples should be taken as often
as possible (for example, at twice the
frequency of the highest signal present),
sothat all variations are detected.
[1]

Frequency / kHz

Frequency spectrum showing central line and

two symmetrically placed sidebands
[1]
central line at 100kHz
[1]
sidebands at 87.5 and 112.5kHz
[1]
9 a
Analogue[1]
b Time / hours V / V decimal V / V binary
0

5.4

1100

4.0

0101

3.8

0100

All values of V decimal correct

[1]
At least two values of V binary correct
[1]
All values of V binary correct
[1]
c i Variations in the signal that occur between
successive samples are not reproduced. [1]
The sample is only accurate at any instant
to the nearest 0.2V, so any variation

Pout = 2.0102mW or 2.0105W

200
c 200 = 10lg P

( )
out

Pout = 2.01018mW or 2.01021W

[1]
[1]
[1]
[1]
[1]

11 a Any two from:

Takes 24 hours to make an orbit of the Earth.
[1]
It travels above the equator in the same
direction as the rotation of the Earth. or It
appears to be above the same point on the
equator.[1]
It orbits at a height of 3.6104km above the
Earths surface.
[1]
b Some of the signal sent from Earth is
picked up by the receiver that is near to
the transmitter. Since the signal received
back from the satellite is weaker, it will
be swamped by the direct signal from
the transmitter nearby unless different
frequencies are used.
[1]
(Using a different frequency, the tuning
circuit only passes the weaker signal received
from the satellite.)
c Less / little power is available in the satellite
to generate radio waves.
[1]
(The downlink signal is generated by the
satellite and much less power is available to
the satellite than is available on the ground.)

Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics Cambridge University Press 2014