After completing this section, students should be able to do the following.

  • Name several transmission lines.
  • Explain the difference between phase shift and time delay of a sinusoidal signal.
  • Evaluate whether the transmission line theory or circuit theory has to be used based on the length of the line and the frequency
  • Students will explain the difference between lumped and distributed circuit elements.
  • Derive the voltage on a transmission line from a consideration of a time-delay due to the finite speed of signals in a transmission-line circuit.
  • Explain parts of propagation constant and what they represent.
  • Calculate the phase and attenuation constant for specific transmission lines.
  • Identify whether the wave travels in the positive or negative direction from the equation of a wave.
  • Describe how signal flows on a transmission line
  • Recognize and explain transmission line equivalent circuit model
  • Derive the equations for voltage and current waves on a transmission line from the equivalent circuit model.
  • Describe forward and reflected wave on a transmission line.
  • Sketch forward and reflected wave as a function of distance, and explain how the graph changes as time passes.
  • Derive phasor form of voltage and current wave from/to the time-domain form.
  • Describe what wavelength represents on a graph of a wave vs. distance
  • Explain how the wavelength is similar and different to waves period?
  • Derive and calculate the transmission line impedance and reflection coefficient.
  • Relate reflection coefficient to impedance.
  • Derive and calculate the input impedance of a transmission line
  • Calculate and visualize phasors of forward going voltage and current waves at various points on a transmission line.