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Points A and B are 60.0m apart along an east-west line. At each of these points,

ID: 1299645 • Letter: P

Question

Points A and B are 60.0m apart along an east-west line. At each of these points, a radio transmitter is emitting a 14.0MHz signal horizontally. These transmitters are in phase with other and emit their beams uniformly in a horizontal plane. A receiver is taken 0.650km north of the AB line and initially placed at point C, directly opposite the midpoint of AB. The receiver can be moved only along an east-west direction but, due to its limited sensitivity, it must always remain within a range so that the intensity of the signal it receives from the transmitter is no less than 1/4 of its maximum value.

1) How far from point C (along an east-west line) can the receiver be moved and always be able to pick up the signal?

Explanation / Answer

lambda = c/f = 3*10^8/(14*10^6) = 21.428 m

I = I0/4 = I0*cos^2(A/2)

cos^2(A/2) = 1/4

cos(A/2) = (+or-)1/2

A/2 = pi/3 ; A = 2*pi/3 or

A/2 = 2*pi/3; A = 4*pi/3

A= (delta r)*2*pi/lambda

delta r = y*L/D

A = 2*pi*y*L/(D*lambda)

for A = 2*pi/3

2*pi/3 = 2*pi*y*L/(D*lambda) =

y = D*lambda/(3*L ) = 650*21.42/(3*60) = 77.35 m

for A = 4*pi/3

4*pi/3 = 2*pi*y*L/(D*lambda) =

y = 2*D*lambda/(3*L ) =2* 650*21.42/(3*60) = 154.70 m

min is 77.35 m

so,

the receiver can be moved 77.35 meters along the east-west line and still detect thesignal