Module 2: Transmission Lines Lecture 4: Physical Interpretation of Voltage & Current Solution

Module 2 : Transmission Lines
Lecture 4 : Physical Interpretation of Voltage & Current Solution
Objectives
In this course you will learn the following
Demonstration of wave motion.
Forward and backward travelling waves.
Interpretation of the propagation constant
Attenuation and phase constants and their units.

Definition of wavelength and its relation to the phase constant.
Characteristic impedance of the transmission line.
Relation between voltage and current for forward and backward travelling waves.

Forward Travelling Wave

Combining now the space-time we get what is called the 'Wave Motion'. See Figure. The voltage pattern appears travelling
from left to right.
The first term of the voltage solution

and
gives the amplitude of the wave at
represents a voltage travelling wave in
direction (left to right),
. We call this wave, the ' Forward Travelling Wave '

Backward Travelling Wave

Similarly, the second term in the voltage solution
direction (right to left) as shown in Figure
'Backward Travelling Wave' .
gives a travelling wave but travelling in negative' x'

. This wave we call the

Current Travelling Waves

The first term of the current solution
and
Similarly, the second term in the current solution

direction (right to left) as shown in Figure.
represents a current travelling wave in
direction (left to right),
. We call this wave, the ' Forward Current Travelling Wave '
gives a travelling wave but travelling in negative ' x '

gives the amplitude of the at
. This wave we call the
'Backward Current Travelling Wave' .

Important Conclusion
The Voltage and the Current exist in the form of waves on a transmission line.
In general, we can say that in a circuit, any time varying voltage and/or current always exist in the form of waves,
although the wave nature may not be evoked at low frequencies where the transit time effects are negligible.

Complex Propogation Constant

The propagation constant
in general is complex
The wave amplitude varies as
. That is
denotes the exponential decay of the wave along its direction of
therefore is called the 'Attenuation Constant' of the line . It has the unit Neper/m . For
propagation.
wave amplitude reduces to 1/e of its initial value over a distance of 1m.
Many times the attenuation of a wave is measured in terms of dB/m.
=1 Neper/m, the
therefore can be given in dB/m, where
1 Neper/m = 8.68 dB/m

Note
In voltage/current expressions,
should always be in Neper/m. Therefore if
converted to Neper/m before it is used in the voltage/current equations.
is given in dB/m it should be
The wave phase has two components

Time phase
Space phase
The parameter
gives the phase change per unit length and hence called the 'Phase Constant' of the line. Its units are
Radian/m.
Now for a wave the distance over which the phase changes by
change per unit length
is called the ' wavelength '
. Therefore the phase

Characteristic Impedance of Transmission Line

Substituting the voltage and current solutions in the differential equations, and noting that the equations must be satisfied by
two waves indepentely we get,
We define a parameter called the 'Characteristic Impedance' of the line as
Note
The ratio of Forward Voltage and Current waves is always
waves is always
The parameters
and
, and the ratio of the Backward Voltage and Current
completely define the voltage and current behaviour on a transmission line. These two
parameters are related to R, L, G, and C, and the frequency of the signal. In transmission line analysis knowledge of
and
is adequate and the explicit knowledge of R, L, G, C is rarely needed.

Recap
In this course you have learnt the following
Demonstration of wave motion.
Forward and backward travelling waves.
Interpretation of the propagation constant
Attenuation and phase constants and their units.

Definition of wavelength and its relation to the phase constant.
Characteristic impedance of the transmission line.
Relation between voltage and current for forward and backward travelling waves.

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Module 2 : Transmission Lines

Lecture 4 : Physical Interpretation of Voltage & Current Solution

Attenuation and phase constants and their units.