33 Worksheet (A2)
1 Two amplitude-modulated radio waves are shown. Each wave has the same carrier frequency and
is carrying an audio signal.
a State and explain one similarity and one difference between the audio signals
that they carry. [4]
b Explain how the graphs show that the carrier frequency is the same. [1]
2 a Describe the difference between amplitude and frequency modulation. [2]
b A carrier wave has a frequency 800 kHz. It is modulated in frequency by an audio signal
of frequency 6 kHz and amplitude 2.0 V.
The frequency deviation of the carrier wave is 30 kHz V−1.
i Determine the maximum frequency shift produced. [1]
ii Determine the minimum frequency of the modulated carrier wave. [1]
iii Describe how the frequency of the carrier wave changes. [1]
c A country intends to start a new broadcasting system. State two reasons why it is more
expensive to set up an FM broadcasting system rather than an AM system. [2]
3 The graph shows the frequency spectrum of an AM radio wave carrying an audio signal
of a single frequency.
35 40 45 Frequency / kHz
a i State the name of the component with frequency 40 kHz. [1]
ii State the name of the components with frequency 35 and 45 kHz. [1]
iii Determine the frequency of the audio signal. [1]
b i Calculate the time for one complete carrier wave. [1]
ii Calculate the time for one complete wave of the audio signal. [1]
iii Sketch a graph of the variation of the signal with time. On your graph mark the values
obtained in b i and b ii. [3]
AS and A Level Physics Original material © Cambridge University Press 2010 1
c The frequency spectrum shown above is formed from a carrier wave and an audio signal
of one frequency. Draw the frequency spectrum formed at one instant if the audio signal
contains a range of frequencies up to 15 kHz. [2]
AS and A Level Physics Original material © Cambridge University Press 2010 2
