DAYANANDA SAGAR COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

(An Autonomous Institute Affiliated to VTU, Belagavi)

ShavigeMalleshwara Hills, Kumaraswamy Layout, Bengaluru-560078

QUESTION BANK
COURSE: Antennas & Wave Propagation COURSE CODE: 19TE6DCAWP

MODULE 1

1. Explain the following antenna parameters with relevant formulae, if any.

i) Beam area
ii) Radiation resistance
iii) Antenna polarization
iv) Power density

2. Prove that maximum effective aperture for an isotropic radiator is 0.0796λ2 by deriving
the aperture-directivity relationship.

3. Compute the directivity and beam solid angle for the antennas having the following
radiation patterns.

i) P=Pm Sin Sin2; 0    ; 0    

ii) U=Um Cosn θ ; 0 ≤ θ ≤ π; 0 ≤ φ ≤ 2π

4. Two spacecrafts A and B are separated by a distance 100x108 m each having an antenna
of directivity 104 and operating at a frequency of 5 GHz. If receiver of spacecraft A
requires 30 dB over 1 pW of power for its operation, what transmitter power is required
on spacecraft B to achieve this signal level?

5. a) Two lossless X-band horn antennas are separated by a distance of 200λ. The maximum
directivity of TX and RX antennas are 18 dB and 22 dB respectively. Assuming that
input power in the lossless transmission line connected to antenna is 2W, and that the
antennas are perfectly aligned and polarization matched, calculate the power delivered to
the load at the receiver.
b) Calculate the gain of a satellite dish antenna of effective aperture 3.75 m2 at a
frequency of 14 GHz.

6. The normalized field pattern of an antenna is given by En(θ,φ)=Sinθ Sinφ; 0 ≤ θ ≤ π; 0 ≤

φ ≤ π. Estimate the following.
i) Exact directivity
ii) Approximate directivity
iii) Difference in dB between (i) and (ii)
7. What is meant by radiation pattern of an antenna? Explain the different types of radiation
patterns with relevant diagrams and the classification of antennas depending upon their
radiation patterns.

8. Define effective aperture and effective height of an antenna. With usual notations prove
𝑨𝒆𝒎𝑹𝑳
that, 𝒉𝒆𝒎 = 𝟐√ 𝒁𝟎

9. a) The radiation resistance and loss resistance of an antenna are 72Ω and 8Ω respectively.
Compute the directivity of the antenna given power gain is 16.
b) An antenna of gain ‘G’ radiates ‘P’ watts of power. Show that free space intensity ‘E’
√30𝑃𝐺
at a distance of ‘r’ m is given by, 𝐸 = Vm-1.
𝑟

10. Illustrate the different antenna field zones with relevant diagrams.
11. State and explain power theorem in terms of radiation intensity and power density as
applied to antennas.

12. The radiation intensity pattern of an antenna is given by U(θ,ϕ) = Cos4θSin2ϕ; 0 ≤ θ ≤ π/2
and 0≤ϕ≤2π. Find its directivity and beam area.

13. Elaborate on the different types of antenna apertures with the help of equivalent circuit of
the receiver.

14. a) Calculate the gain of a satellite dish antenna of effective aperture 3.75 m2 at a
frequency of 14 GHz.
b) The far zone power density radiated from a helical antenna is approximately given as
S=(C0/r2)Cos4θ where C0 is a constant. The radiated power density is symmetrical about
the azimuthal plane and exists only in the upper hemisphere. Compute the directivity of
the helical antenna.

15. What is the maximum power received at a distance of 0.5km over a free-space 1 GHz
circuit consisting of a TX antenna with 25dB gain and RX antenna with 20 dB gain? The
gain is with respect to a lossless isotropic source. The TX antenna input is 150W.

16. What is the maximum power received at a distance of 1.5km over free space 2.5 GHz
circuit consisting of a TX antenna with 25dB gain and RX antenna of gain 20dB. The
gain is with respect to isotropic antenna. The TX antenna input is 150W.

17. a) Estimate the directivity and gain of an antenna with half power angles 2° and 1° with
an efficiency factor of 0.5.
 b) Find the solid angle in square degrees on the surface of a sphere extending from θ=10°
to 30° and φ=20° to 60°.

18. The radiation intensity of an antenna is given by U(θ,ϕ) = UmSin2θSin3ϕ; 0 ≤ θ ≤ π and

0≤ϕ≤π. Estimate the following:
i) Exact beam area
ii) Approximate beam area
iii) Decibel difference

MODULE 2

1. Synthesize the field pattern and find HPBW, FNBW for an array of two isotropic point
sources fed with power of equal amplitude but inphase quadrature.

2. A linear array of 4 isotropic point sources with standard interelement spacing is fed with
power of equal magnitude and phase difference of –dr. Obtain the resultant field pattern
and compute HPBW, FNBW.
3. Derive the equation for radiation resistance of a short electric dipole with usual notations.

4. An array of four isotropic point sources is placed in a linear fashion with a distance of λ/2
between adjacent elements. The peak is to be obtained at 60° from the axis of array. What should
be the phase difference with respect to power feed? Deduce the field pattern. Find HPBW and
FNBW.
5. Define array factor and derive its equation for array factor for UE, ESLA with usual notations.

6. Synthesize the field pattern and find HPBW, FNBW for an array of two isotropic point
sources fed with power of equal amplitude and phase.

7. Synthesize the field pattern and find HPBW, FNBW for an array of two isotropic point
sources fed with power of equal amplitude but opposite phase.

8. Prove that the maximum effective aperture of a short dipole is 0.119 λ2 and that of a half-wave
dipole is 0.322 λ2.

9. a) The lower lobe of an 8 element uniform BSA was observed to be at 45° with a frequency
of 40 MHz. Find the interelement spacing of the array.
b) Prove that the primary and secondary patterns are identical for an array of two isotropic
point sources with the help of pattern multiplication principle.
10. State and explain the principle of pattern multiplication. Illustrate with examples of array of
two horizontal and vertical dipoles.

11. For a short dipole of length λ/15 operating at a frequency of 6 GHz, find the efficiency,
directivity, effective aperture and radiation resistance if the loss resistance is 2Ω.

MODULE 3

1. Give an explanatory note on the geometry and modes of operation of helical antenna with
illustrative diagrams.
2. Illustrate the major configurations of feeding methods for microstrip antennas with
supportive diagrams.
3. Write short notes on the following antennas.
i) Antennas for GPR applications
i) UWB antenna
4. Write short notes on the following antennas.
i) Plasma antenna
ii) Embedded antenna

5. a) What are the features of Yagi-Uda antenna?

b) Calculate the length of elements of a three-element Yagi antenna with spacing
between the elements of 0.2λ operating at a frequency of 50 MHz.

6. A 12-turn helical antenna has circumference of 2λ and vertical separation between turns of
λ/6. Calculate the following parameters for the helical antenna.

i) Input impedance
ii) Axial ratio
iii) HPBW
iv) Gain
v) Pitch angle
vi) Total height

7. Compute the lengths of dipoles in 8-element LPDA with aspect ratio of 0.5. The smallest
dipole is 0.3 m in length. Also determine the cut-off frequencies and BW of the LPDA.
8. Elaborate on the design considerations for antennas used in satellite communication?

9. What are long-wire antennas? Differentiate between resonant and non-resonant antennas.
10. What are folded dipoles? Explain the advantages of folded dipoles over ordinary dipoles
with illustrative diagrams of the same.
 11. Enumerate the different types of horn antennas with relevant diagrams. Give a short
note on the advantages, disadvantages and applications of horn antennas.

MODULE 4

1. What are smart antennas or MIMO systems? Explain with human analogy.

2. Explain switched beam and adaptive array systems with necessary illustrative and block
diagrams.

3. Write a note on the classification of DOA estimation algorithms with relevant examples.

4. Elaborate on the technical benefits and drawbacks of using smart antennas in

communication systems.

5. a)What is DOA? Mention the factors on which DOA depends upon.

b) Derive the DOA of a two element array system. Show that the angle of arrival or
incidence can be determined on the basis of time delays and geometry of the system.

6. Derive the MMSE criterion for optimal beamforming in smart antenna systems.

7. What is LMS algorithm? How is it used as an optimal beamforming technique?

MODULE 5

1. What are RHR and OHR? Derive expressions for the same with standard notations.

2. Enlist the important factors affecting radio wave propagation along with types of radio
wave propagation.

3. a) Find the maximum range of tropospheric propagation for which the transmitter
antenna height is 120 feet and receiver antenna is 75 feet.
b) Calculate the wave tilt in degrees for a surface wave over an earth of 8 mƱ
conductivity and relative permittivity of 14 at 5 MHz.
4. Derive an expression for field strength in tropospheric communication.
5. a)The TX and R X antennas with respective heights of 49m and 25m are installed to establish
a communication link at 100MHz with a transmitter power of 100W. Determine the LOS
distance and the received signal strength thereof.
b) The critical frequencies for E, F1 and F2 layers were found to be 3 MHz, 5 MHz and 9MHz
respectively at an instance. Find the corresponding concentrations of electrons in these layers.
6. What is critical frequency? Derive an expression for critical frequency in terms of R.I of
ionosphere.
7. What is MUF? Deduce an expression for the same. Extend the expression for flat earth.
8. Calculate the skip distance for flat earth with MUF 10MHz if the wave s reflected back from a
height of 300km when the maximum refractive index is 0.9.

9. What is skip distance? Derive an expression for the same.

10. What is wave tilt? Derive an expression for the same.

11. What is duct propagation or super refraction? Explain its types with relevant graphs.

12. a) A high frequency radio link has to be established between two points on earth 5000 km
away. The reflection region of ionosphere is at a height of 200 km and has a critical
frequency of 8 MHz. Calculate the MUF for the given path in case of flat earth.

b) In an ionospheric propagation, the angle of incidence made in a particular layer at a

height of 200 km is 45° with critical frequency of 6 MHz. Calculate the skip distance.

13. a)What is virtual height for an ionospheric layer? Explain with diagrams.
b) Calculate the roughness factors for the Earth of conductivity 5x10-5 ℧/m; θ=15° at
frequencies of 10 kHz, 100 kHz and 1 MHz frequencies.