Electronic – Characteristic impedance of a transmission line

characteristic-impedancepowertransmission

characteristic impedance of a transmission line depends on frequency of transmission as can be seen by its expression.

What will be the characteristic impedance of TL if my signal has two frequency components?
What will be its expression?

Best Answer

Above about 1MHz, normal cable characteristic impedance is fairly contant with frequency as per the equation: -

\$Z_0 = \sqrt{\dfrac{L}{C}}\$ where L and C are inductance and capacitance per unit distance.

The theoretically correct equation for all frequencies is: -

\$Z_0 = \sqrt{\dfrac{R+j\omega L}{G + j\omega C}}\$ where R and G are series resistance and shunt conductance per unit distance.

This tends to reduce to a complex value in the sub-1MHz area of: -

\$Z_0 = \sqrt{\dfrac{R}{j\omega C}}\$

If both frequencies are well above 1MHz then you can take Z0 to be a constant.