1. What do you understand by transmission line? Mention some types.

Answer

They are systems formed by two conductors separated by insulation, through which an

electromagnetic signal, represented in a potential difference and a current, is sent from one

emitting point to another receiver.

Some types of these transmission lines for communication systems are:

- Balanced lines: They are transmitted by two wires, one of which is the main conductor

and the other is the return conductor. It is transmitted by potential difference between both

conductors carrying the same current.

- Unbalanced lines: Unlike the other, this transmission is made by separate lines or by

several wires where there is a single return conductor that is connected to ground, the

electromagnetic signal is transmitted as power to the ground for each of line drivers.

- Bipolar lines: They consist of two parallel conductors with or without external insulation

and with or without external insulation.

In this type of lines we find local area or power distribution lines, power transmission

cables, and cables for UTP and STP data transmission.

- Parallel plate lines: They are two parallel flat conductors with or without external

insulation and with or without external insulation

In this type of lines we find the coils of rotating electrical machines.

- Coaxial Lines: They are made up of an insulated internal conductor, covered by an

external conductor and the set is jacketed in an external insulator.

2. What is a limited transmission line?

Answer

They are those lines called cable communication or limited transmission media where they

use a physical route or a conductor to transmit signals. Some of these lines are twisted pair

cables, coaxial cable, and fiber optics.

3. Define the following electrical parameters of the transmission lines:

Answer

a. Input impedance 𝑍𝑖𝑛.

It is emitted by a generator and is understood as the ratio between total voltage and total

current.

b. Standing wave ratio 𝑉𝑆𝑊𝑅.

Standing waves represent a power that is not accepted by the load and reflected along the

power or transmission line.

Although standing waves and VSWRs are very important, VSWR theory and analysis can

often mask a view of what is actually happening. Fortunately. It is possible to get a good

overview of the subject, without going too deep into VSWR theory.

c. Physical length 𝐿 and electrical length 𝓁.

In physics, the distance recorded by a periodic disturbance that propagates through a

medium in one cycle is known as a wavelength. The wavelength, also known as the spatial
period, is the inverse of the frequency. The wavelength is generally represented by the

Greek letter λ.

In general, the concept of wavelength is associated with sine waves, although it can be

extended to any periodic wave. The magnitude of the wavelength can be determined as the

distance between two consecutive maxima of the disturbance. For example, in an

electromagnetic wave, the wavelength corresponds to the distance between two maxima in

the electric field. In the case of sea waves, the wavelength coincides with the separation

between two consecutive crests

4. What is the purpose of the Smith Letter in the study of wave propagation?

Answer

The Smith chart is a graphical method, on the Gaussian plane, where we are allowed to

obtain some parameters of the transmission lines and solve impedance adaptation problems,

avoiding operations with complex numbers.