Aim:

1.Determine the specific resistance of a coaxial line with the aid of a Wheatstone bridge.
2.Determine the capacity of a coaxial line with the aid of a Wien bridge.
3.Determine the inductivity of a coaxial line with the aid of a Maxwell bridge.
4.Determine the surge impedance of a coaxial line Z.

Theory:
The coaxial cable has an inner conductor surrounded by a tubular insulating layer, surrounded by
a tubular conducting shield. Many coaxial cables also have an insulating outer sheath or jacket.
The term coaxial comes from the inner conductor and the outer shield sharing a geometric axis as
shown in the figure below:

Coaxial lines are crucial in signal transmission systems, and their performance depends on
electrical properties like capacitance, inductance, resistance, and conductance. Capacitance,
influenced by the dielectric material and conductor spacing, can cause signal attenuation at high
frequencies. Inductance, minimized by the coaxial design, is advantageous for high-frequency
transmission by reducing distortions and losses. Resistance, caused by energy loss as heat, is
minimized using low-resistance materials, but the skin effect at high frequencies increases
resistance and signal loss. Conductance, often overlooked, refers to the dielectric's ability to
conduct leakage currents, and high-quality insulating materials are essential for minimizing
conductance-related inefficiencies. These properties collectively determine the transmission
line's impedance and overall performance, requiring careful balancing by engineers to ensure
efficient and reliable signal transmission in various applications.
Like any transmission line, the coaxial cable has these four parameters; capacitance, resistance,
conductance and inductance. The equivalent circuit of a coaxial cable shown in figure below:
 A coaxial cable circuit consists of shunt capacitance, series resistance, shunt conductance, and
series inductance. Shunt capacitance represents the cable's ability to store electrical charge and
is measured in Farads per meter. “C=2πϵ/ln(D/d) “. Series resistance accounts for the resistance
of the inner conductor and shield, which increases at higher frequencies due to skin effect.
“R=(1/2π)*((1/d)+(1/D))*(πfμ/σ)^0.5“. Shunt conductance, though generally small due to the
use of good dielectrics, can have a resistive loss at high frequencies. “G=2πσ/ln(D/d)“. Series
inductance represents the magnetic field around the wires and is measured in Henries per unit
length. “L=(μ/2π)*ln(D/d)“. Characteristic impedance, a complex value defined by the cable's
resistance, capacitance, inductance, and conductance, represents the overall opposition to the
flow of electrical energy within the cable. “Z=((R+jL)/(G+jC))^0.5“.
Where,
d: Outside diameter of inner conductor
D: Inside diameter of the shield
μ: Magnetic permeability of dielectric medium
ϵ: Dielectric permittivity of the dielectric medium
σ: Conductivity of the inner conductor
These parameters influenced by the cable's design and materials, determine its characteristic
impedance and ability to handle high frequency signals with minimal loss or distortion.
Optimizing these properties requires careful engineering, with a focus on using high-quality
materials and precise geometric configurations.
Discussion:
1. Calculate the characteristic impedance from the quantities established for the
line. By using this equation:
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 (𝐿)
𝑍 (Ω) = √
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 (𝐶)

To find characteristic impedance as shown above we have to find total capacitance and total
inductance.
1. Finding total capacitance, where C1 =10nF and R3=100Ω.

Length of the Rp1 (Ω) Rp1∗C1 𝐶

C = C’=𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ
cable (m) R3

20m 22.7Ω 2.27nF 2.27𝑛𝐹

C’= = 0.1135nF/m
20𝑚
40m 44.5Ω 4.45nF 4.45𝑛𝐹
C’= 40𝑚 = 0.11125nF/m
60m 69.9Ω 6.99nF 6.99𝑛𝐹
C’= 60𝑚
= 0.1165nF/m

Now we can calculate total capacitance across the cable:

0.1135+0.11125+0.1165
Ctotal = 3
= 0.1141 nF/m
2. Finding total capacitance, where C1 =10nF and R3=100Ω.
Length of the Rp1 (Ω) Rp2 (Ω) L= R3*Rp2*C1 𝐿
L’=
𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ
cable (m)
20m 80Ω 8.7Ω 8700nH 8700𝑛𝐻
L’= 20𝑚
= 435 nH/m

40m 80Ω 17.48Ω 17480nH 17480𝑛𝐻

L’= = 437 nH/m
40𝑚

60m 80Ω 26.5Ω 26500nH 26500𝑛𝐻

L’= 60𝑚
= 441.6 nH/m

Now we can calculate total inductance across the cable:

435+437+441.6
Ltotal = 3
= 437.8 nH/m
Now we can find the characteristic impedance:

𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 (𝐿) 437.8 𝑛𝐻/𝑚

𝑍 (Ω) = √ =√ = 61.943 Ω
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 (𝐶) 0.1141 𝑛𝑓/𝑚
2. Applications
1. Television and Cable Services
2. Internet Connectivity
3. Security and Surveillance Systems
4. Communication Systems
5. Networking (Legacy Systems)
6. Audio and Video Systems
7. Satellite Communication

3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of coaxial cables?

• Main advantages of coaxial cables:
Coaxial cables offer advantages such as high bandwidth for cable TV, internet, and data transfer,
low signal loss over long distances, effective shielding against electromagnetic interference,
durability in various environments, flexibility despite their thickness, and enhanced security.
• Main advantages of coaxial cables:
Coaxial cables also have disadvantages, including a higher price compared to simpler cables,
bulkiness and installation challenges due to their size and rigidity, signal loss at high frequencies
or longer distances, limited speed compared to fiber optic cables, difficulty in repairing damaged
cables, and potential installation issues in confined spaces or complex setups.
Conclusion: Discussing results

The characteristic impedance (Z0) of the transmission line was calculated using the relationship
between total inductance (Ltotal) and total capacitance (Ctotal) as:

𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 (𝐿)

𝑍 (Ω) = √
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 (𝐶)

Through the analysis, the total capacitance per meter (Ctotal = 0.1141 nF/m) and the total
inductance per meter (Ltotal= 437.8 nH/m) were determined. Substituting these values into the
equation for characteristic impedance gives:

437.8 𝑛𝐻/𝑚
𝑍 (Ω) = √ = 61.943 Ω
0.1141 𝑛𝑓/𝑚

This value of 61.943 Ω represents the impedance that the transmission line would exhibit under
conditions of perfect signal matching, minimizing reflections at the interface between the line
and any connected equipment.

Explanation:

1. Total Capacitance Calculation:

The total capacitance was determined by considering the individual contributions of the
cable segments of different lengths. Capacitance per unit length was calculated as:
Rp1∗C1
C =
R3

and the average total capacitance was then determined by combining the results across all
segments.

2. Total Inductance Calculation:

The total inductance was calculated using the formula:
𝐿
L’=
𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ

and similarly, the inductance per unit length was averaged over the entire cable.

3. Characteristic Impedance Implications:

The calculated Z0 value provides insight into the signal integrity and efficiency of energy
 transfer over the transmission line. A well-matched Z0 with the source and load ensures
minimal signal distortion and energy loss. For practical applications, this value aids in
designing systems with minimal reflection and optimized performance.

The characteristic impedance of the transmission line was calculated as 61.943 Ω, based on the
total inductance of 437.8 nH/m and total capacitance of 0.1141 nF/m. This value is critical for
ensuring optimal performance in minimizing reflections and maximizing signal integrity in
communication systems. The resulting impedance falls within a typical range for many practical
transmission lines, such as coaxial cables, making it suitable for signal transmission.

Good impedance matching occurs when the characteristic impedance of the transmission line
matches the impedance of the source and load. In this case, the 61.943 Ω impedance ensures
minimal signal reflection and optimal power transfer if the source and load impedances are also
around 61.943 Ω. For systems with different typical impedances (such as 50 Ω or 75 Ω), some
reflection may occur, and impedance matching techniques like transformers or matching
networks would be needed to reduce this reflection and improve signal integrity.

Thus, the characteristic impedance of 61.943 Ω is a reasonable value for many types of systems,
but it needs to match the source and load impedances to achieve a "good match." When the
impedances align, signal distortion and power loss are minimized, ensuring efficient and
effective signal transmission.