Question 6A388

When the relative amplitudes of the positive and negative modulation peaks in an AM signal are unsymmetrical, it results in **carrier shift**. In ideal Amplitude Modulation, the average amplitude (and thus average power) of the modulated waveform remains constant, corresponding to the unmodulated carrier's amplitude. If the positive peaks extend further than the negative troughs (or vice versa), the overall average amplitude of the modulated signal changes. This change in the average value manifests as a "shift" in the perceived carrier level on a receiver's detector or an oscilloscope. This phenomenon is often caused by non-linear operation in the modulator or final amplifier, such as incorrect bias or overmodulation. Frequency shift (B) is a characteristic of Frequency Modulation (FM) or Frequency Shift Keying (FSK), where the carrier's frequency, not its amplitude, is varied. Amplifier shift (C) is not a recognized term describing this specific radio theory phenomenon.