Chapter 2: Amplitude modulation 4hours

I. Definition
According to the standard definition, “The amplitude of the carrier
signal varies in accordance with the instantaneous amplitude of the
modulating signal.” Which means, the amplitude of the carrier signal
containing no information varies as per the amplitude of the signal containing
information, at each instant. This can be well explained by the following
figures.

The first figure shows the modulating wave, which is the message
signal. The next one is the carrier wave, which is a high frequency signal and
contains no information. While, the last one is the resultant modulated wave.
It can be observed that the positive and negative peaks of the carrier
wave, are interconnected with an imaginary line. This line helps recreating
the exact shape of the modulating signal. This imaginary line on the carrier
wave is called as Envelope. It is the same as that of the message signal.

II. Mathematical expressions

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 1. Time domain representation
Let consider:
• Am and Ac as the amplitude of the modulating signal and the carrier signal
respectively in volt.
• fm and fc as the frequency of the modulating signal and the carrier signal
respectively in hertz.
• m(t) the modulating signal

• c(t) the carrier wave

• s(t) the modulated wave
• = the phase angle
We have,
m(t)= Amcos(2πfmt+) and c(t)=Accos(2πfct+) are the equations of the
modulating and carrier signal respectively.
For generality, =0
From the definition of the amplitude modulation, we have:

s(t)=[Ac+Amcos(2πfmt)]cos(2πfct) (1)
2. Modulation index
A carrier wave, after being modulated, if the modulated level is
calculated, then such an attempt is called as Modulation Index or Modulation
Depth. It states the level of modulation that a carrier wave undergoes.

We know that,

s(t)=[Ac+Amcos(2πfmt)]cos(2πfct)

s(t)= Ac [1+µcos(2πfmt)]cos(2πfct)

Where, μ is the Modulation index and it is µ=

Percentage modulation: It is the percentage change in the amplitude
of the output wave when the carrier is acted on by a modulating signal.
Now, let us derive one more formula for Modulation index by
considering Equation 1. We can use this formula for calculating modulation

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 index value, when the maximum and minimum amplitudes of the modulated
wave are known.
Let Amax and Amin be the maximum and minimum amplitudes of the
modulated wave.

We will get the maximum amplitude of the modulated wave, when cos(2πfmt) is 1.

⇒Amax=Ac+Am (3)

We will get the minimum amplitude of the modulated wave, when cos(2πfmt) is -1.

⇒Amin=Ac−Am (4)

Amax+Amin=Ac+Am+Ac−Am=2Ac

Amax−Amin=Ac+Am−(Ac−Am)=2Am

gives us

The modulation index or modulation depth is often denoted in percentage called as

Percentage of Modulation. We will get the percentage of modulation, just by multiplying the
modulation index value by 100. For a perfect modulation, the value of modulation index should
be 1, which implies the percentage of modulation should be 100%.

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 If the modulation index is less than 1, then the modulated output would look like the
following figure. It is called as Under-modulation. Such a wave is called as an undermodulated
wave.

If the value of the modulation index is greater than 1, then the wave will be
an overmodulated wave. It would look like:

3. Bandwidth of AM wave

The Bandwidth (BW) is the difference between the highest and lowest frequencies of the
signal. Mathematically, we can write it as BW=fmax−fmin
Consider the following equation of amplitude modulated wave:

s(t)=Ac[1+μcos(2πfmt)]cos(2πfct)

⇒s(t)=Accos(2πfct)+Acμcos(2πfct)cos(2πfmt) since 2cosAcosB=cos(A+B)+cos(A-B)

⇒s(t)=Ac

Hence, the amplitude modulated wave has three frequencies. Those are carrier frequency
fc, upper sideband frequency fc+fm and lower sideband frequency fc−fm

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 This contains full carrier and both the sidebands, hence it is also called double
sideband full carrier (DSBFC) system.

We know that the bandwidth of the signal can be obtain by taking the
difference between highest and lowest frequencies.

Here fmax= fc+fm, and fmin= fc-fm so BW=fc+fm−( fc-fm)

⇒BW=2fm

Thus, it can be said that the bandwidth required for amplitude modulated
wave is twice the frequency of the modulating signal.

4. Power calculation of AM wave

Consider the following equation of amplitude modulated wave.

s(t)=Ac

The power of AM wave is equal to the sum of powers of the unmodulated

carrier, upper sideband, and lower sideband frequency components.
Pt=Pc+PUSB+PLSB

We know that the standard formula for power of cos signal is

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 Where, Vm is the peak value of cosine signal and R the characteristic
impedance of the antenna in which the power is dissipated.

First, let us find the powers of the carrier, the upper and lower sideband one

by one.

Carrier power

In the case that the modulation index μ=1, Pt=𝟏.𝟓Pc ,the power required for
transmitting an AM wave is 1.5 times the carrier power for a perfect modulation

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 TUTORIAL 1
Problem 1
A modulating signal m(t)=10cos(2π×103t) is amplitude modulated with a carrier signal
c(t)=50cos(2π×105t). Find:

1. The modulation index

2. The carrier power
3. The power required for transmitting AM wave.

4. The frequency of USB and LSB and the bandwidth

Problem 2

The equation of amplitude wave is given by s(t)=20[1+0.8cos(2π×103t)]cos(4π×105t). Find:

1.The frequency of the carrier

2.the carrier power
3.the total sideband power
4.. the band width of AM wave.
Problem 3
An AM transmitter radiates 20KW, if the modulation Index is 0.7, Find the carrier Power.
Problem 4

Problem 5

Solution
The standard equation of carrier signal is c(t)=Accos(2πfct)

By comparing these two equations, we will get Amplitude of carrier signal as Ac=50volts and
Frequency of carrier signal as fc=105Hz=100KHz

We know the formula for modulation index as

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Substitute, Am and Ac values in the above formula, we have

Therefore, the value of modulation index is 0.2 and percentage of modulation is 20%.

2. The carrier power

The formula for Carrier power, Pc

Let Assume that R=1Ω. If we substitute the values of Ac we obtain:

Pc W

Therefore, the Carrier power, Pc is 1250 watts.

3. The power

We know the formula for power required for transmitting AM wave is Pt

. Replacing the values we have

Pt W

Therefore, the power required for transmitting AM wave is 1275 watts.

Problem 2
Given, the equation of Amplitude modulated wave is

s(t)=20[1+0.8cos(2π×103t)]cos(4π×105t)
Re-write the above equation as

s(t)=20[1+0.8cos(2π×103t)]cos(2π×2×105t)
We know the equation of Amplitude modulated wave is

s(t)=Ac[1+μcos(2πfmt)]cos(2πfct)
By comparing the above two equations, we will get

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Amplitude of carrier signal as Ac=20volts

Modulation index as μ=0.8

Frequency of modulating signal as fm=103Hz=1KHz

Frequency of carrier signal as fc=2×105Hz=200KHz

The formula for Carrier power, Pc is

Pc

Let’s Assume that R=1Ω ; by replacing the different values we have

Pc W

Therefore, the Carrier power, Pcis 200watts.

2. the total sideband power

We know the formula for total side band power is

PLSB

Therefore, the total power of the sidebands is PSB =64W

Therefore, the total side band power is 64 watts.

4. The bandwidth

We know the formula for bandwidth of AM wave is BW=2fm Substitute fm value in the above
formula.

BW=2(1K)=2KHz therefore, the bandwidth of AM wave is 2 KHz.

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