FCC Exam Question: 22B2

What is the electrical effect of an inductance in series with the antenna?

A. It electrically lengthens a physically fixed length antenna.
B. It electrically shortens a physically fixed length antenna.
C. It raises the resonant frequency of a physically fixed length antenna.
D. It increases the bandwidth of a physically fixed length antenna.
Correct Answer: A

Explanation: A physically short antenna, relative to the desired operating wavelength, exhibits capacitive reactance. Adding an inductance in series with the antenna introduces inductive reactance. These two reactances oppose each other. When the inductive reactance from the coil cancels the capacitive reactance of the short antenna, the antenna appears electrically longer and can be made resonant at the desired lower frequency. This technique is commonly known as "loading" a short antenna. B) Adding inductance does not electrically shorten an antenna; it has the opposite effect. Capacitance would electrically shorten it. C) Electrically lengthening an antenna to achieve resonance at a specific frequency means that for its fixed physical length, its resonant frequency is *lowered*, not raised. D) Adding loading coils to electrically lengthen a physically short antenna generally *reduces* its bandwidth, making it more sharply tuned.

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Includes Elements 1, 3, 6, 7R, 8, and 9.