DGCA Air Navigation: Radio Wave Fundamentals Questions

173 exam-style Radio Wave Fundamentals questions for the DGCA Air Navigationpaper (CPL & ATPL). The first 12 are free below with answers and explanations — sign up free to practise all of them with progress tracking.

  1. Q1

    A radio beacon has an operational range of 10 NM. By what factor should the transmitter power be increased in order to achieve an operational range of 20 NM?

    • A Four
    • BSix
    • CEight
    • DTwo
    Show answer

    Correct answer: A. Four

    Radio range varies with the square root of transmitter power, so to double the operational range the power must be increased by a factor of four. Quadrupling power doubles the distance at which the same field strength is received.

  2. Q2

    What is the wavelength of an NDB transmitting on 375 kHZ?

    • A 800 m
    • B 8000 m
    • C 8 m
    • D80 m
    Show answer

    Correct answer: A. 800 m

    Wavelength equals the speed of light divided by frequency, so 300 million metres per second divided by 375 000 Hz gives 800 metres. This places the beacon firmly in the low/medium frequency band used for NDBs.

  3. Q3

    A radio wave is:

    • Aan energy wave comprising an electrical field in the same plane as a magnetic field
    • Ban electrical field alternating with a magnetic field
    • Can energy wave where there is an electrical field perpendicular to a magnetic field
    • Dan energy field with an electrical component
    Show answer

    Correct answer: C. an energy wave where there is an electrical field perpendicular to a magnetic field

    This Explanation is Coming Soon

  4. Q4

    The process which causes the reduction in signal strength as range from a transmitter increases is known as:

    • Aabsorption
    • Bdiffraction
    • Cattenuation
    • Dionisation
    Show answer

    Correct answer: C. attenuation

    This Explanation is Coming Soon

  5. Q5

    he bandwidth produced when a radio frequency (RF) of 4716 kHz is amplitude modulated with an audio frequency of 6 khz is

    • A6 kHz
    • B3 kHz
    • C12 kHz
    • D9 kHz
    Show answer

    Correct answer: C. 12 kHz

    This Explanation is Coming Soon

  6. Q6

    The ideal length for a Marconi aerial for a frequency of 406 MHz is:

    • A36.9 cm
    • B35.1 cm
    • C17.5 cm
    • D18.5 cm
    Show answer

    Correct answer: C. 17.5 cm

    This Explanation is Coming Soon

  7. Q7

    The speed of radio waves is:

    • A300 km per second
    • B300 million metres per second
    • C162 nm per second
    • D162 million nm per second
    Show answer

    Correct answer: B. 300 million metres per second

    This Explanation is Coming Soon

  8. Q8

    Which of the following will give the greatest surface wave range?

    • A243 MHz
    • B500 kHz
    • C2182 khz
    • D15 MHz
    Show answer

    Correct answer: B. 500 kHz

    This Explanation is Coming Soon

  9. Q9

    Which of the following statements concerning AM is correct?

    • Athe amplitude of the RF is modified by the frequency of the AF
    • Bthe amplitude of the RF is modified by the amplitude of the AF
    • Cthe frequency of the RF is modified by the frequency of the AF
    • Dthe frequency of the RF is modified by the amplitude of the AF
    Show answer

    Correct answer: B. the amplitude of the RF is modified by the amplitude of the AF

    This Explanation is Coming Soon

  10. Q10

    A disadvantage of directivity is:

    • Areduced range
    • Bsidelobes
    • Cphase distortion
    • Dambiguity
    Show answer

    Correct answer: B. sidelobes

    This Explanation is Coming Soon

  11. Q11

    The plane of polarisation of an electromagnetic wave is:

    • Athe plane of the magnetic field
    • Bthe plane of the electrical field
    • Cthe plane of the electrical or magnetic field dependent on the plane of the aerial
    • Dnone of the above
    Show answer

    Correct answer: B. the plane of the electrical field

    This Explanation is Coming Soon

  12. Q12

    It is intended to increase the range of a VHF transmitter from 50 nm to 100 nm. This will be achieved by increasing the power output by a factor of:

    • A2
    • B8
    • C16
    • D4
    Show answer

    Correct answer: D. 4

    This Explanation is Coming Soon

161 more Radio Wave Fundamentals questions in the full bank

Create a free account to practise every Radio Wave Fundamentals question with instant scoring, chapter tests, previous DGCA papers and full-length mock exams.

Start practising free

More DGCA Air Navigation topics