ELECTRONICS Quarter 3 READING RESOURCES-1 where the AM/FM thing happens.

where the AM/FM thing happens. It should be combined in the radio wave called carrier wave to
Electronics broadcast an electrical signal. This mechanism is called modulation. Modulation refers to converting
Quarter 3 – Module 1: data by adding information to an electronic or optical carrier signal into radio waves. One with a steady
Amplitude and Frequency Modulation waveform is a carrier signal - constant height, or amplitude, and frequency.

Aside from television AM and FM radio play vital roles in our everyday lives, for they There are two ways for the carrier wave to be modulated (or changed):
provide a useful auditory device of communication. They provide entertainment and companionship as 1. By changing the amplitude or height of the carrier wave (Amplitude Modulation).
we do our daily activities. They also give us real-time information that we need to keep us abreast of
what we need to know about the world.
The AM and FM radio stations do not just inform but also motivate us to learn more. They
become instruments in promoting values and virtues that build attitudes, interests, and gratefulness of
human life.
In the previous lesson in Quarter 2, you have learned to describe how electronic timing circuits are
calibrated and tested. Do you still remember the electronic timing circuit? Below is an example of an
electronic timing system circuit.

2. By changing the frequency or how fast the carrier wave travels (Frequency Modulation).

The sound over the radio is of different frequencies and broadcast from different radio
stations. One can quickly tell if he or she is listening to an AM or FM radio station. Are there
differences in the sounds produced by the radio stations?
Ways of transmitting radio signals are Amplitude Modulation (AM) and Frequency
Modulation (FM). In the form of electromagnetic waves, both AM and FM transmit information.
Amplitude Modulation works by varying or modifying the signal or carrier amplitude transmitted
according to the information sent while maintaining a constant frequency. The modulation of
frequency differs in the way that the information (sound) is encoded. It could be done by varying the
wave frequency and keeping the amplitude constant.
A radio show or program starts with the production of audio from people who
speak. The sounds will then be captured, and the microphone will turn them into an electrical signal. It
is then transmitted from the studio immediately or stored as a recording to be used later, but here is
Figure 3. Frequency modulation of the carrier wave
The signal is then broadcast as electromagnetic waves from the radio station’s antenna. The
receiver of the personal radio or home radio then picks up the waves, amplifies, and converts them
back into sound through the speaker. If the signal is not attached, the sound will not be produced
because the carrier waves are not modulated.
Despite that radio waves continuously coming from many stations surrounding us, the radio
receiver does not receive them simultaneously. It is because the stations broadcast at different specific
frequencies. The radio has to be tuned in to a precise frequency to find the right signal. The numbers
on the radio dial represent frequencies used by the local radio stations. If the FM dial is set at 107.5
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(WISH 107.5), the radio signal is broadcasted at 107,500,000 MegaHertz (MHz), or 107,500,000
cycles per second.

Figure 4. Carrier wave, amplitude modulated, and frequency modulated waves

The quality of sound produced, performance, and broadcast range of AM and FM can be
associated with the way radio signals are encoded. The quality of sound varies on its location and
environment. If there are physical barriers like buildings or in closed area, the quality might be
affected. It explains why FM stations sound better than AM stations, but AM stations can be heard
further.
AM radio varies the amplitude of the broadcast signal, so the signal’s power is also changed
since amplitude represents the signal’s strength. Some receivers cannot pick up low amplitude signals
at all. FM radio always remains at constant amplitude, so signal strength does not change.
FM uses a higher frequency range and bandwidth than AM. AM radio operates from 535 kHz
(kiloHertz) to 1705 kHz. When turning the dial on the radio, the
number changes by 10 kHz each time. It means that each station has 10 kHz of
bandwidth on which to broadcast. On the other hand, FM radio operates between
88 MHz and 108 MHz and increments every 200 kHz.
FM station has an allocated 150 kHz of bandwidth, which is 15 times that of an AM station. It
means that an FM station can transmit 15 times as much information as an AM station. It explains why
music sounds so much better on FM. Since music has more electrical information than a monophonic
voice audio signal, FM typically broadcasts music, and AM generally sticks to news and talk show
programs.
In alternating current, the zero-crossing is the instantaneous point at which there is no voltage
present. In a sine wave or other simple waveform, this normally occurs twice during each cycle. It is a
device for detecting the point where the voltage crosses zero in either direction.
The zero-crossing is important for systems which send digital data over AC
circuits, such as modems, X10 home automation control systems, and Digital Command Control type
systems for Lionel and other AC model trains. Counting zero-crossings is also a method used in speech
processing to estimate the fundamental frequency of speech.
A table of comparison of AM and FM.

Assessment1

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Directions: Read and understand each statement below about AM and FM. Identify 3. What happens to the amplitude of the carrier wave as it passes on the
whether the statement is true or false. Write FACT if the statement is true and FAKE if it is false. modulator?
1. AM is more susceptible to noise because noise affects amplitude, where information is
“stored” in an AM signal. Know My Station
2. The frequency range of FM radio ranges in a higher spectrum from 88 to 108 MHz (OR) 1200 to Let’s find out:
2400 bits per second. What are the frequencies and names of some radio stations in the Philippines and the locality?
3. AM is less prone to interference than FM. Let’s do it this way:
4. In AM, a radio wave known as the “carrier” or “carrier wave” is modulated in frequency by the 1. Turn the radio on.
signal that is to be transmitted. The amplitude and phase remains the same. 2. Name and locate the amplitude or frequency of the three AM and FM
5. In AM radio broadcasting, the modulating signal has a bandwidth of 15kHz hence, the bandwidth radio stations that can be heard on the radio.
of an amplitude-modulated signal is 30kHz. 2. Write your answer in the table below.
6. FM Transmitter and receiver are more complex as a variation of modulating signal has to be
converted and detected from the corresponding variation frequencies. (i.e., the voltage to
frequency and frequency to voltage conversion has to be done).
7. AM method of audio transmission was first successfully carried out in the mid- 1820s.
8. FM uses a higher frequency range and a bigger bandwidth than AM.
9. FM radio always remains at constant amplitude, so signal strength does not change.
10. Each FM station is allocated 150 kHz of bandwidth, which is 15 times that
of an AM station.

Stop! Look! Write! Explain!

1. Look at the illustration below.
2. Provide necessary information on the illustration.

Guide Questions:
1. Did you find it easy to locate the AM and FM radio stations?
2. Have you located a frequency of the nearest radio station in your locality? Give the name of the
nearest radio station.
3. What challenges have you experienced in doing this activity?

ANCHOR. ANCHOR!
Let’s do it this way:
1. Make an audio recorded presentation of a radio talk show discussing the differences between
AM and FM.
2. The scoring rubric below will be used in assessing your output.

Guide Questions:
1. What is the use of the amplitude modulator in the illustration?
2. What happens to the sound fed on the microphone?

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Let us summarize your insights by doing this activity.

Amplitude Modulation (AM) and Frequency Modulation (FM) are ways of broadcasting radio
signals. Both AM and FM transmit the information in the form
of ____________ (signal/electromagnetic waves). Amplitude Modulation works by
varying or changing the ____________ (frequency/amplitude) of the carrier wave
while frequency modulation could be done by varying the ____________
(frequency/amplitude). ____________ (AM/FM) has a poorer sound quality and
susceptible to noise while ____________(AM/FM) is less prone to interference and
less susceptible to noise.