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Signal in a copper wire is simply continuous electric current (commonly referred to as electricity), whether alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC). It is not different than the electric power transmission lines that carry electric energy (or power) from power plants to distribution companies and houses.
Continuous electric current is the net motion of free electrons that are a part of the atomic structure of every conductor (i.e. metal). In the absense of an electric field, free electrons are in random/chaotic/thermal motion within the conductor, i.e. they are moving randomly and very fast. When an electric field is applied, they start moving under the influence of the applied electric field (i.e. in a net direction), extremely slowly compared to their random motion, but moving nonetheless. This net motion of free electrons is what is referred to as "continuous electric current".
If signal is continuous electric current, and continuous electric current is the net motion of free electrons, then signal attenuation is fading of this net motion.
What resists to the net motion of free electrons is the fixed atoms on the lattice structure. The "flowing" free electrons collide with fixed lattice atoms and cause Ohmic heating (a.k.a. Joule heating). This explains the resistance of the cable, which is the reason of signal attenuation. As the signal travels on the cable, the voltage level will decrease due to "copper losses" (i.e. ohmic heating). Resistivity increases with length (and decreases with diameter), therefore the longer the cable, the higher the resistance (and attenuation).
Near-field electromagnetic fields around a current carrying wire traps the free electrons to the outer shell of the wire. This is referred to as "skin effect". This effectively decreases the cross-sectional area, which in turn increases the resistance, and which in turn increases the signal attenuation. Skin effect becomes more effective at higher frequency signals flowing through the wire. Therefore, higher frequency signals flows through a higher resistance and thus gets attenuated more.
Note that fading (i.e. attenuation) of the signal is not the only problem in signal transmission. When a signal is sent, it should arrive at the load (i.e. destination) above some treshold power (i.e. not attenuated too much), and it should arrive undistorted (i.e. not interfered with too much). These are the two concerns:
- attenuation
- interference.
Reactance of the conducting medium (i.e. the cable used) or external electromagnetic fields can interfere with the signal. Cable's reactance comes from capacitance and inductance of the multiple wires isolated (to a degree) from each other within the cable.
That's it for now, my friend ;]
t
What else can I help you with?
What are the types of signal?
An Analog Signal is a continuous signal, just like an electric current that flows through the copper cables when your electrical appliances are turned on. This continuous signal represents physical measurements. An example of this would be with an analog audio signal, the voltage amount of the signal changes continuously with the change in sound waves. Analog Signals are normally represented as electrical signals, but there is also Classical Mechanics, Pneumatics, and Hydraulics technique's that can be used in analog signals.
What is hourly time signal?
hourly time signal is causes your watch to beep every hour on the hour.
What is impedance matching?
making impedances identical. when done between supply and load it is done to maximize power transfer. when done on cables and busses it is done to prevent or minimize signal reflections. a low impedance mismatch reflects an inverted signal, a high impedance mismatch reflects an inphase signal.
What are the difference between carrier signal modulating signal modulated signal baseband and passband?
carrier signal- use for the purpose of conveying information. modulating signal- causes variations in some characteristics of carrier signal. modulated signal - carrier signal after altration in its characteristics is called modulated signal. example- if you want to see an object (suppose it is an modulating signal),you need light(light is carrier signal) and when light will reflect on object you will be able to see if (that is modulated signal)
What is signal distortion in transmission lines?
there are some distortion in transmission line : copper loss,dielectric loss,skin effect
Which media suffers least attenuation?
Fiber optic cables suffer the least attenuation compared to other media such as copper cables. This is because light signals in fiber optic cables can travel longer distances without losing their strength, resulting in minimal signal loss. This makes fiber optic cables ideal for transmitting data over long distances.
How do you reduce attenuation effects?
To reduce attenuation effects, you can use signal amplifiers to boost the signal strength, use high-quality cables with lower loss, minimize the length of the cable runs, and avoid sharp bends or kinks in the cables. Additionally, you can install signal repeaters or extenders along the transmission path to maintain signal integrity.
What are the differences between low attenuation and high attenuation in terms of signal strength in a communication system?
Low attenuation refers to a situation where the signal strength remains strong over long distances, resulting in minimal loss of signal quality. High attenuation, on the other hand, indicates a significant decrease in signal strength over distance, leading to potential loss of signal quality.
What causes humming at PA system?
It could be... Signal cables crossing electrical cables , bad earthing on the equipment , a signal loop eg feedback , static , intaferance ( due to poorly shielded cables ) or a bad connection
How does network cable length affect attenuation?
longer cable lengths have greater signal attenuation
What is a conductive material that controls electrical fields and reduces RF interference and signal loss in cables?
Copper mesh.
What is attenuation in decibels?
The degeneration of a signal over a distance on a network cable is called attenuation. It does not have any relation with decibels. The strength of signal just gets reduced.
Which properties of cable are distorted by sharp bends?
Sharp bends in cables can distort their electrical transmission properties, leading to signal degradation. In particular, sharp bends can increase signal attenuation and reduce signal integrity, leading to issues such as signal loss and reflections. Additionally, sharp bends can increase crosstalk between adjacent cables, causing interference.
Where can you find information about attenuation?
Attenuation means the reduction of signal strength during transmission. If one is looking for information about attenuation, it can be found on the Wikipedia website.
Where does attenuation occur?
Attenuation typically occurs in processes involving the weakening or reduction of a signal's strength, intensity, or energy. In communication systems, attenuation can happen in transmission lines, optical fibers, or wireless channels, leading to signal loss or degradation over distance. It is essential to account for attenuation to maintain signal quality and integrity in various applications.
What is attenuation in communication?
loss of signal strength as distance increases The reduction of signal energy during transmission.
Does a repeater reduce the effects of attenuation for a digital transmission signal?
It depends on the repeater. Those that receive a signal, buffer it in real time and pass it on as a digital signal will reduce the effects of attenuation. Those that receive a signal and regenerate it with a new clock signal will generally eliminate the effects of attenuation completely.The type of repeater used depends on where and how it is used as well as the signal that is being transmitted.
