Question:How can wave properties like refraction and diffraction affect communications?
Refraction and diffraction of radiation can affect communications:
Refraction occurs at the interfaces of different layers of Earth&aposs atmosphere.
Diffraction by transmission dishes results in signal loss.
Also see this table:
|
Radio |
Microwaves |
| Advantages |
- Radio waves can be reflected and refracted by the ionosphere.
- This can allow a signal to be received that would otherwise be blocked by buildings and hills.
- Diffraction allows signals to be picked up in what would be a shadow region.
|
- Microwaves don&apost reflect and refract like radio waves so there is no signal loss.
- They can travel long distances using satellites
|
| Disadvantages |
- The reflection and refraction can cause the signal to lose energy and become weak.
- Too many reflections can cause interference with other stations transmitting on similar frequencies.
- Diffraction of radio waves from a transmission dish can also lead to a drop in quality
|
- Microwaves require a &aposline of sight&apos between transmitter and receiver.
- Microwaves can&apost diffract around large objects which can lead to signal loss.
- Microwaves can suffer from interference between signals.
|