GROUP STUDY - WAVE PROPAGATION

1. What type of radio propagation where signals travel along the surface of the
earth?
a. Knife Edge
b. ground wave
c. E-layer
d. Line of Sight
2. What is the thickest layer of the ionosphere?
a. D
b. E
c. F2
d. F1
3. When the transmitting and receiving antennas are line of sight with each
other, the mode of propagation is ____ wave.
a. Space or direct b. sky
c. surface
d. ground
4. The lowest layer in the ionosphere.
a. D
b. E
c. F1
d. F2
5. Distance traveled by a wave in the time of one cycle.
a. Crest
b. frequency c. wavelength
d. hop
6. Circular polarization is used to counter
a. Faradays rotation
b. wave propagation
c. antenna radiation
d. density of ionization
7. The velocity of the signal in air is 140 and becomes 100 as it passes through
another medium. What is the index of refraction of the second medium.
a. 1.4
b. 0.715
c. 1.33
d. 1.5
8. It is defined as the upper portion of the atmosphere which absorbs large
quantities of radiant energy from the sun, becoming heated and ionized.
a. Troposcatter
b. stratosphere
c. ionosphere
d. LOS
9. Any small element of space in the path of a wave can be considered as a
source of secondary wavelets.
a. Faradays Law c. Fresnels Law of Optics
b. Huygens Principle
d. De Morgans Principle
10.An antenna is to be installed to receive a LOS wave transmitted from an
antenna located at a distance of 40 miles from this installation and which is
500 ft. in height. Determine the necessary height for the receiving antenna.
a. 35 ft
b. 100 ft
c. 220 ft
d. 500 ft
11.Line of sight communications is not a factor in which frequency range?
a. UHF
b. HF
c. SHF
d. Microwave
12.The intrinsic impedance of free space is
a. 1 ohm
b. 4pi ohms c. 120 pi ohms
d. 3 x 10 exp8
ohms
13.In the HF range, the received signals are mainly by
a. Ground waves b. Sky wavesc. Space waves
d. supperrefraction
14.A law of refraction in wave propagation
a. Huygens principle
b. Snells Law
c. Faradays Law
d. Maxwells
Equation
15.A law of diffraction in wave propagation
a. Huygens principle
b. Snells Law
c. Faradays Law
d. Maxwells
Equation
16.A zone of silence in wave propagation
a. Skip zone
b. skip distance
c. troposcatter
superrefraction

d.

17.A power density of 1.57 x 10exp -4 w/sq.m. is measured 50 m from a test

antenna whose directive gain is 2.15 dB. How much power was fed to the test
antenna?
a. 1w
b. 2w
c. 3w
d. 4w
18.The field strength of a free space signal is measured as 2 uV/m at a distance
of 85,000 km. What is the transmitter power?
a. 563 w
b. 600 w
c. 963 w
d. 1000w
19.What is the change in the power density when the distance from the source
increases by a factor of 4?
a.
b.
c. 1/8
d. 1/16
20.Line of sight is limited by the earths curvature with radio horizon equal to
____ of the optical horizon.
a. 5/3
b. 3/5
c. 4/3
d.
21.What is the field that encircles the antenna and perpendicular to it?
a. Magnetic
B. Electric
c. Inductive
d. Field of Rotation
22.The electric field is always ____ to the antenna wire.
a. Parallel
b. perpendicular
c. not related
d. 45 degrees
pointed
23.It is the fluctuation in signal strength at a receiver and may be rapid or slow,
general or frequency selective.
a. Noise
b. Fading
c. Intermodulation d. Interference
24.Given MUF as 7050 kHz, critical angle is 35 degrees, what is the critical
frequency of this sky wave signal?
a. 7.43 MHz
b. 5.775 MHz
c. 6.5 MHz
d. 7.05 MHz
25.What is the radio horizon distance between a 150 ft transmitting station and
70 ft receiving station?
a. 29.15 km
b. 29.15 mi c. 82.46 mi
d. 82.46 km
26.Ground waves are most effective:
a. below about 2 MHz
c. at microwave frequencies
b. above about 20 MHz
d. when using horizontally polarized
waves
27.Radio waves sometimes "bend" around a corner because of:
a. reflection
b. refraction c. diffusion
d. diffraction
28.Space waves are:
a. line-of-sight
c. same as sky waves
communications
29.Sky waves:
a. are line-of-sight
c. are same as space waves
communications
30.Sky waves cannot be "heard":
a. close to the transmitter
b. far from the transmitter

b. reflected off the ionosphere

d. radio waves used for satellite

b. "bounce" off the ionosphere

d. are radio waves used for satellite

c. in the "silent" zone

d. in the "skip" zone

31.A 20-dB reduction in the strength of a radio wave due to reflection is called:
a. fading
b. frequency diversity
c. diffraction
d. spatial
diversity
32.The troposphere is the:
a. highest layer of the atmosphere
b. middle layer of the atmosphere
atmosphere

c. lowest layer of the atmosphere

d. the most ionized layer of the

33.Radio waves are ____________________ electromagnetic waves.

a. transverse
b. longitudinal
c. parallel
d. isotropic
34.The propagation speed of radio waves in free space is ____________________
m/sec.
a. 3 x 10exp 8 b. 186,000
c. 162,000
d. all of these
35.Unlike sound or water waves, radio waves do not need a ____________________
to travel through.
a. Source
b. transmitter
c. medium
d. receiver
36.Waves from an ____________________ source radiate equally in all directions.
a. Isometric
b. isobaric
c. isotropic
d. any of these
37.The wavefront of a point source would have the shape of a
____________________.
a. Circle
b. helix
c. sphere
d. omnidirectional
38.The polarization of a radio wave is the direction of its ____________________
field.
a. Magnetic
b. electromagnetic c. electric
d. none of these
39.The electric field of a radio wave is ____________________ to its magnetic field.
a. Transverse b. perpendicular
c. parallel
d. a or b
40.Both the electric and magnetic fields of a radio wave are ____________________
to its propagation direction.
a. Transverse b. perpendicular
c. parallel
d. a or b
41.With ____________________ polarization, the direction of a radio wave's electric
field rotates as it travels through space.
a. helical
b. circular
c. Faraday
d. linear
42.The watts per square meter of a radio wave ____________________ as the wavefront moves through space.
a. decreases
b. increases
c. remains constant
d. none of these
43. ____________________ is the "bending" of radio waves as they travel across the
boundary between two different dielectrics.
a. Refraction
b. Reflection
c. Diffraction
d. Interference

44.The process of ____________________ makes radio waves appear to "bend

around a corner".
a. Refraction
b. Reflection
c. Diffraction
d. Interference
45.____________________ waves travel from transmitter to receiver in a "line-ofsight" fashion.
a. Space
b. Ground
c. Sky
d. Ionospheric
46.___________________ waves are vertically polarized radio waves that travel
along the earth's surface.
a. Space
b. Ground
c. Sky
d. Ionospheric
47. ____________________ waves are radio waves that "bounce off" the ionosphere
due to refraction.
a. Space
b. Ground
c. Sky
d. Tropospheric
48.The ____________________ is a region where sky waves cannot be received.
a. skip zone
b. skip distance
c. Fresnel region
d.
fraunhoffer
49.The "fast fading" seen in mobile communications is caused by
____________________ waves interfering with direct waves.
a. refracted
b. diffracted
c. reflected
d. attenuated
50.A certain dielectric has permittivity of 6.3 x 10exp10 F/m and the same
permeability as free space. What is the characteristic impedance of that
dielectric?
a. 45 ohms
b. 50 ohms
c. 55 ohms
d. 60 ohms
51.If a point source of radio waves transmits 1 watt, what is the power density
10,000 meters from the source?
a. 796 pW/m2 b. 800 pW/m2
c. 796 v/m
d. 800 v/m
52.What power must a point-source of radio waves transmit so that the power
density at 3000 meters from the source is 1 W/m2?
a. 113 watts
b. 110 watts
c. 115 watts
d. 120 watts
53.If a radio receiver needs 1 nW/m2 of power density to function, how far away
from a 1-watt point source will it continue to work?
a. 8.9 km
b. 10 km
c. 12 km
d. 15 km
54.A line-of-sight radio link over flat terrain needs to use antenna towers 50 km
apart. What, approximately, is the minimum height for the towers assuming
all the towers are the same?
a. 37 miles
b. 37 km
c. 37 meters
d. 37 feet
55.The electric field intensity is measured in:
a. V/m
b. V-m
c. C/m

d. V/C

56.The maximum horizontal distance between the transmitter and the receiver
for line of sight propagation is known as:
a. radio horizon
b. range
c. single hop distance
d. service
region
57.The electric field is perpendicular to the earths surface, the polarization is:
a. vertical
b. normal
c. horizontal
d. circular
58.In what major RF band is ground wave basically applied?
a. MF
b. HF
c. VHF
d. UHF
59.The highest frequency that can be set back to earth by the ionosphere, if
wave is sent vertically upward.
a. maximum usable frequency (muf)
b.propagating frequency
c. critical frequency
d. cut-off frequency
60.Travel in a straight line from the transmitting antenna to the receiving
antenna.
a. ground wave
b. scatter
c. space wave
d. sky wave
61.It is the distance between two wave fronts having the same phase at any
given instant.
a. wavefront
b. wavelength
c. wave distance
d. field
intensity
62.The maximum horizontal distance between the transmitter and the receiver
for line of sight propagation is known as:
a. radio horizon
b. range
c. single hop distance
d. service
region
63.The electric field is perpendicular to the earths surface, the polarization is:
a. vertical b. normal
c. horizontal
d. circular
64.In what major RF band is ground wave basically applied?
a. MF
b. HF
c. VHF
d. UHF
65.The highest frequency that can be set back to earth by the ionosphere, if
wave is sent vertically upward.
a. maximum usable frequency (muf) b.propagating frequency
c. critical frequency
d. cut-off frequency
66.Travel in a straight line from the transmitting antenna to the receiving
antenna.
a. ground wave
b. scatter c. space wave
d. sky wave
67.It is the distance between two wave fronts having the same phase at any
given instant.
a. wavefront
b. wavelength
c. wave distance
d.
field intensity

68.Determine the wavelength of a 4 GHz signal.

a. 75m
b. 0.75m
c. 0.075m

d. none of these

69.A radio station operates at 11 meter wavelength. What is the designated

band of stations frequency?
a. HF
b. MF
c. VHF
d. UHLF
70.What is the total radio horizon distance between an 80 ft transmitting station
and a 20 ft receiving station?
a. 18.97 mi
b. 18.97 km
c. 20 mi
d. 20 km
71.A power density of 1.57 x 10-4 W/m2 is measured 50 meters from a test
antenna whose directive gain is 2.15 dB. How much power was fed into the
test antenna?
a. 5 W
b. 4W
c. 3 W
d. 2 W
72.Determine the radio horizon for a transmit antenna that is 200 m high and a
receiving antenna that is 100 m high
a. 100 mi
b. 99.5km
c. 99.5 mi
d. 100 km
73.Variation in signal loss caused by natural weather disturbances.
a. attenuation
b. fading
c. spreading loss
weather loss

d.

74.The height above the earths surface from which a refracted wave appears to
have been reflected.
a. actual height
b. virtual height
c. average height d. mean
height
75.Electromagnetic waves that are directed above the horizon level.
a. ground waves
b. surface waves
c. sky waves
space waves

d.

76.A radio communication link is to be established via the ionosphere. The

maximum virtual height of the layer is 110 km. at the midpoint of the path
and the critical frequency is 4 MHz. If the distance between the radio stations
is 500 km, what is the suitable value for the optimum working frequency?
Use flat terrain analysis.
a. 8.2 MHz
b. 8.3 MHz
c. 8.4 MHz
d. 8.5 MHz
77.The lowest portion of the ionosphere that is useful for long-distance
communication by amateurs; about 100 to 115 km above the earth is known
as the layer. This is often termed as the Kennely-Heavyside layer.
a. D
b. E
c. F1
d. F2
78.A graph which shows the radiation in actual field strength of electromagnetic
fields at all points which are at equal distance from the antenna is known as
a. Frequency Response b. Radiation Pattern
c. Smith Chart
d. FCC
Graph

79.What should be done to increase the transmission distance at frequencies

higher than HF bands?
a. Increase antenna gain
c. increased transmitter power
b. Increased antenna height
d. increased receiver sensitivity
80.A radio station operates at 11 meter wavelength. What is the designated
band of stations frequency?
a. MF
b. HF
c. VHF
d. UHF

81.________________ means that the characteristics and performance of an

antenna are the same whether the antenna is radiating or intercepting an
electromagnetic signal.
a. antenna reciprocity
b. antenna polarization
c. antenna grounding
d. tower sway
82.The electric and magnetic fields of a radio wave are:
a. perpendicular to each other
c. both a and b
b. perpendicular to the direction of travel d. none of the above
83.TEM stands for:
a. Transverse Electromagnetic
b. Transmitted Electromagnetic

c. True Electromagnetic
d. none of the above

84.In free space, radio waves travel at a speed of:

a. 3 x 10exp6 meters per second c. 3 x 10exp6 miles per second
b. 300 x 10exp 6 meters per second d. 300 x 10exp 6 miles per second
85.Which is a possible polarization for an electromagnetic wave:
a. vertical
b. circular
c. horizontal
d. all of the above
86.A wave that is characterized by having its direction of propagation
perpendicular to its oscillation is known as
a. Isotropic
b. transverse
c. polarized
d. refractive
87.Which is not an effect of our environment on wave propagation?
a. Radiation
b. reflection c. refraction
d. diffraction
88.A point in space that radiates electromagnetic energy equally in all directions
is called
a. Transverse b. Isotropic point source c. omnisphere
d. shadow zone
89.The process of waves, which traveling in straight paths, bending around an
obstacle is
a. Radiation
b. reflection c. refraction
d. diffraction
90.Which is not one of the basic modes of getting a radio wave from the
transmitting to receiving antenna?
a. Ground wave
b. shadow wave
c. space wave
d. satellite
link
91.The type of wave that is most affected by the D, E, and F layers of the
ionosphere is:
a. Ground wave
b. sky wave c. space wave
d. satellite link

92.The largest frequency that will be returned to earth when transmitted

vertically under given ionospheric conditions is called the
a. Critical frequency b. MUF
c. OWF
d. all of these
93.The characteristic impedance of free space is
a. Not known
b. infinity
c. 50 ohms d. 377 ohms
94.Indicate which one of the following terms applies to troposcatter propagation:
a. SIDs
b. Fading
c. Atmospheric storms
d. Faraday rotation

95. VLF waves are used for some type of services because
a. of the low powers required
b. the transmitting antennas are of
convenient size
c. they are very reliable
d. the penetrate the ionosphere easily
96.Indicate which of the following frequencies cannot be used for reliable
beyond-the-horizon terrestrial communications without repeaters:
a. 20 kHz
b. 15 MHz
c. 900 MHz
d. 12 GHz
97.High-frequency waves are
a. absorbed by the F2 layer
b. reflected by the D layer
c. capable of use for long-distance communications on the moon
d. affected by the solar cycle
98.Distances near the skip distance should be used for the sky-wave propagation
a. to avoid tilting
b. to prevent sky-wave and upper ray interference
c. to avoid the Faraday effect
d. so as nor to exceed the critical frequency
99.A ship-to-ship communications system is plagued by fading. The best solution
seems to be use of
a. a more directional antenna
b. a broadband antenna
c. frequency diversity
d. space diversity
100.
The ground wave eventually disappears, as one moves away from the
transmitter, because of
a. interference from the sky wave
b. loss of line-of-sight conditions
c. maximum single-hop distance limitation
d. tilting