i had to write about AM and FM radios and how they work, does this sound ok? anything i should change?

Posted on September 14, 2010
Filed Under channel963shanefm | 1 Comment

The most common type of radios that we find in our homes, and cars are AM (Amplitude Modulation), and FM (Frequency Modulation). The radio works by using radio waves-, which is why they call it a radio. Radio waves are the lowest frequency of the electromagnetic spectrum. Sound waves and electromagnetic waves are similar because of their waves, but electromagnetic waves are made up of electric and magnetic vectors. A sound wave is made up of mechanical attributes.
Both AM and FM have the word Modulation in it. This is because every radio station sends the information by embedding it into the radio waves before they transmit it through the air by its transmitters. They do this by just changing from the characteristics, frequency and amplitude.
When you use AM the transmitters vary the signal level, in proportion to the sound that they are transmitting. Positive peaks of the sound produce maximum radio energy and negative peaks of the sound produce minimum energy. AM has a weaker signal, so it is quieter then a stronger signal. So when you use AM you may need to have additional circuits to make up for the signal level differences.
FM radio doesn’t have the limitations that AM radio does because the audio is dependant on the frequency of the signal. An FM station transmits a sub carrier, which produces a frequency range that is too high to be heard by human ears. These sub carriers are used to carry weather reports, stock quotes, and other music that is being transmitted. FM radios rely heavily on sub carriers, so they can have a stereophonic effect, which is a device for reproducing acoustic events carried on at least two channels. The main audio in FM radio is monophonic which is when it is recorded with only one channel. That’s is how FM and AM radios work.

Comments

One Response to “i had to write about AM and FM radios and how they work, does this sound ok? anything i should change?”

  1. Joline on September 14th, 2010 6:13 am

    Here are corrections. A radio receives radio waves sent by a radio station’s transmitting antenna. Radio waves are not the lowest frequency in the electromagnetic spectrum. Radio waves are composed of electromagnetic and electrostatic transverse waves that vary with the frequency of transmission. AM modulates the height of the carrier radio wave and FM modulates, (varies) the frequency of the carrier radio wave. FM transmission is quieter than AM transmission and is immune to the electrical noise of storms.
    Other than that, your report is very good.

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