Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET)

Course No.: EE 3206
Exp. No. 1
Name of the Experiment: Study on Amplitude Modulation (AM)
Objectives
After completion of this experiment, the students will be able to-
1. Describe the necessities of modulation, different types of analog modulations,
requirements for modulation, and related terminologies used for AM modulation.
2. Explain the operation of AM transmitter and receiver.
3. Measure the transmitted and received signal power and their correlation with
modulation index.
Introduction
Modulation: Modulation means to “change”. The process of changing some characteristic
(e.g. amplitude, frequency or phase) of a carrier wave in accordance with the amplitude of the
modulating signal is known as modulation. In electronics and telecommunications,
modulation is the process of varying one or more properties of a periodic waveform, called
the carrier signal, with a modulating signal that typically contains information to be
transmitted. Most radio systems in the 20th century used amplitude modulation (AM) or
frequency modulation (FM) or phase modulation (PM) to make the carrier to carry the radio
broadcast. In modulation process, modulating signal changes amplitude or frequency or phase
of the RF carrier signal.There are three analog modulation techniques:- a) Amplitude
modulation (AM), b) Frequency modulation (FM), and c) Phase modulation (PM)
Need for Modulation
a) To make the antenna size smaller (antenna height~ λ /4 ).
b) To increase efficiency of radiation.
c) To separate out individual signal from complex form (modulated and multiplexed
form).
Amplitude Modulation
In amplitude modulation, only the amplitude of high frequency carrier wave is changed in
accordance with the amplitude of the modulating signal, but the frequency of the modulated
wave remains the same i.e. carrier frequency. Fig. 1 shows the waveforms of modulating
signal, carrier signal along with modulated signal. Note that the amplitudes of both positive
and negative half-cycles of carrier wave are changed in accordance with the amplitude of
modulating signal. For instance, when the signal is increasing in the positive sense, the
amplitude of carrier wave also increases. On the other hand, during negative half-cycle of the
signal, the amplitude of the carrier wave decreases. Amplitude modulation is done by an
electronic circuit called modulator.
 Modulating signal Modulator

Carrier signal

Modulated signal

Fig. 1: Schematic representation of modulating signal, carrier signal , and modulated signal.
In a nutshell,
a. The amplitude of the carrier wave changes according to the amplitude of the
modulating signal.
b. The frequency of the amplitude modulated signal remains the same i.e. carrier
frequency fc.

Fig. 2 Graphical form of amplitude modulated signal.

Modulation Index
The ratio of change of the amplitude of amplitude modulated signal to the amplitude of
carrier signal is called the modulation index, m
Change ofthe amplitude of modulated signal
Modulation index, m =
Unm odulated carrier amplitude
If the maximum and minimum voltages of an AM wave are Vmax and Vmin, respectively, then
modulation index, m can be given by:
V max −V min
m=
V max +V min

The greater degree of modulation, the stronger and clearer will be the audio signal.
m=1 or 100% is called 100% modulation.
m>1 or >100% is called over modulation.
m<1 is called less than 100% modulation.
m=0, no modulation.
Mathematical Formulation of AM signal
The amplitude of the carrier signal varies according to the amplitude of the modulation signal
having frequency fm as shown in fig. 2. Therefore, the amplitude of AM wave is given by:
Amplitude of AM wave = EC +m EC cos ω m t=E C (1+m cos ωm t) [from fig. 02]
The instantaneous voltage of AM wave is:
e= Amplitude ×cos ωc t

After some algebraic manipulations, the final form is:

m EC m EC
e=E C cos ωc t+ cos (ω ¿ ¿ c+ ωm )t +¿ cos ¿ ¿ ¿ ……… (1)
2 2
where ω c is the angular frequency of the carrier signal.
Upper and Lower Sideband Frequencies
An unmodulated carrier wave consists of only one-single frequency component of frequency
fc when it is combined with a modulating signal frequency f m (information signal/modulating
signal/ AF signal all are same) heterodyning action takes place. As a result two additional
frequencies called sideband frequencies are produced which can also be seen from equation
(1). The amplitude modulated signal is found to consist of three frequency components:
a) Carrier frequency component, fc
b) Higher frequency component (fc + fm) called upper sideband (USB)
c) Lower frequency component (fc - fm) called lower sideband (LSB)
These two are symmetrically located around the carrier frequency as shown in Fig. 3.

Carrier
LSB USB

fc -fm fc fc +fm
 Fig.3 Frequency positions of upper and lower sideband along with carrier.

Power of AM signal
The power dissipated in any circuit is a function of the square of the voltage across the circuit
and the effective resistance of the circuit. Equation (1) of AM signal reveals that it has three
different peak amplitudes corresponding to carrier wave, upper sideband and lower sideband
EC, mEC/2 and mEC/2, respectively. Clearly, power output must be distributed among these
components.
Carrier power, PC =¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ , where Ec is the peak value of carrier wave

Power in double sideband (DSB), Ps =PUSB+ P LSB =¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿

( ) ( )
2 2 2 2
2 2
EC m EC EC m m
After AM total transmitted power, PT =PC + PS = + = 1+ =PC 1+ [for
2R 4R 2R 2 2
DSB transmission]

( )
2
m
For SSB transmission, PT =PC 1+
4

Block Diagram of AM Transmitter

RF Buffer Modulator RF power

Oscillator Amplifier Amplifier Antenna
Multiplie
Carrier wave
generator

Audio Audio
signal amplifier

Fig. 4. Schematic block diagram of AM transmitter.

Function of Each Block
1) RF oscillator generates an RF signal called carrier signal.
2) The audio signal, which can be produced by a function generator or a microphone, is
amplified by an audio amplifier prior to modulating the carrier.
3) An RF amplifier can be used as a buffer (isolation between RF oscillator and power
amplifier), a frequency multiplier, or a straight amplifier.
4) The radio signals provided to the antenna by the RF power amplifier contains a carrier
frequency and two audio sidebands.
5) The antenna converts these high current signals into an electromagnetic wave for
transmission through communication channels.
Block Diagram of Receiver

Antenna RF Mixer IF AM detector

amplifier amplifier

Local
oscillator
Power AF
Speaker amplifier
Amplifier

Fig. 5 Block diagram of AM receiver

Function of Each Block

a) The receiver's antenna intercepts the many electromagnetic waves and converts them
into RF currents.
b) An RF amplifier selects the desired RF signal by a frequency tuning circuit among the
signals which strike in the antenna, amplifies it, couples it to a frequency converter
which converts it into an intermediate radio frequency (IF). (frequency converter
consists of mixer and local oscillator)
c) The IF (difference) signal is selected and amplified by the IF amplifiers and then
coupled to an AM detector.
d) The detector separates the audio signal from the IF carrier signal, sends the audio
signal to the audio and power amplifiers.
e) Finally, reproduction of the original audio occurs in the speaker.
Experimental Data
Table 01: Data for this experiment:
Sl. Basic Data Calculated Data
No. Em Ec Vmax Vmin VR %m Pc Pr Pt
(Vp) (Vp) (Vp-p) (Vp-p) (Vp) (mW) (mW) (mW)

Sl. Basic Data Calculated Data

No. f t T(ms) Phase shift 
(Hz (ms)
)
Analysis of Experimental Results
2 2
Ec V
Pc = , Pr = R ,let R=1;Ec and VR are the peak values of carrier and received signals,
2R 2R
respectively.

√(
)
2
IT m …………..(A)
Ratio of antenna current to carrier current (DSB), = 1+
Ic 2

4)√(
2
I
Ratio of antenna current to carrier current (SSB), = 1+ m ……………(B)
T
I c

=( 1+ )…………..(C)
P m T
2
Ratio of transmitted power to carrier power (DSB),
P 2c

=( 1+ )……………(D)
P m T
2
Ratio of transmitted power to carrier power (DSB),
P 4c
Phase shift calculation
 Compare transmitted signal with received signal and then measure Δt = ms
 Calculate phase shift by Δ = 360o∗Δt∗f ;

Plotting of Graphs
i. Plot % of modulation index vs peak value of modulating signal, Em.
ii. Plot Pr vs % of modulation index.
iii. Plot equations (A), (B), (C), and (D) as a function of % of modulation index
iv. Plot phase difference, Δ vs frequency
Results and Discussion:
 Write down the results and discussion with figure number and table no. Each figure
and table must have caption.
Conclusion
 Report must end with conclusion. Write conclusion with main experimental finding.
Answer the following questions:
(i) Is it possible to transmit signal from source to destination without modulation? If no,
why?
(ii) Write down relative advantages and limitations among different analog modulation
techniques.
(iii) Suppose you are asked to design an analog communication system. Will you choose
DSB or SSB transmission and why?
 (iv) What happen when modulation index becomes m > 1?

REFERENCE: Chapter 16, Principle of electronics by V. K. Mehta; Lab manual.