 What is Amplitude Modulation (AM)?

 Amplitude Modulation
Amplitude modulation is a type of modulation where the
amplitude (signal strength) of the carrier signal is varied in
accordance with the amplitude (signal strength) of the message
signal.

Or

Amplitude modulation is a type of modulation where the

information (message signal) is transmitted over a carrier wave
by varying its amplitude in accordance with the amplitude of the
message signal.

Or

Amplitude modulation is a type of modulation where the height

of the carrier signal is changed in accordance with the height of
the message signal.
In amplitude modulation, only the amplitude of the carrier wave
is changed while the frequency and phase of the carrier wave
remain constant.

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The above figures show the amplitude modulation.

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The first figure shows the modulating signal or message signal which
contains information, the second figure shows the high frequency carrier
signal which contains no information and the last figure shows the
resultant amplitude modulated signal.
The third figure shows that the amplitude of both the positive and
negative half cycles of the carrier wave is varied in accordance with the
instant amplitude of the message signal. It can be observed that the
positive and negative peaks of the amplitude modulated (AM) wave are
interconnected with an imaginary line. This imaginary line on the AM
wave is called envelope. The shape of the envelope of AM wave looks
same as the message signal. Therefore, this envelope helps in recreating
the exact shape of the message signal.

The carrier signal does not contain any information so even if we change
the amplitude of the carrier signal, no information loss will occur.
However, if we change the characteristics (amplitude, frequency, or
phase) of the message signal, information loss will occur because the
message signal contains the information. So, the characteristics of the
message signal should not be changed.

Amplitude modulation was the earliest modulation technique used to

transmit voice signals by radio signals. Amplitude modulation is still
used in many forms of communication; for example, it is used in
portable two-way radios, citizens band radio, VHF aircraft radio, and in
computer modems in the form of QAM (Quadrature Amplitude
Modulation).

In amplitude modulation, the message signal is an audio signal which

represents sound, (or) a video signal which represents the image. The
carrier wave which has a much higher frequency than the message signal
carries the information. At the receiving station, the message signal is
extracted from the amplitude modulated wave by demodulation
technique.

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Mathematical Expression

Consider a sinusoidal modulating signal or message signal (am) of

frequency (ωm) and amplitude (Am) given by:
am = Am sin ωmt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1)
and carrier wave (ac) of frequency (ωc) and amplitude (Ac) given by:
ac = Ac sin ωct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2)
Where,
am is the modulating signal or message signal
ac is the carrier signal
Am is the maximum amplitude of the message signal
Ac is the maximum amplitude of the carrier signal
ωm is the frequency of the message signal
ωc is the frequency of the carrier signal
Using the above mathematical expressions for message signal and the
carrier signal, we can create a new mathematical expression for the
complete modulated wave.
The amplitude modulated wave (A) is given as:
A = Ac + am. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(3)
Put am value from equation (1) into equation (3), then we get
A = Ac + Am sin ωmt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(4)
The instantaneous value of the amplitude modulated wave (a) can be
given as:
a = A sin θ
a = A sin ωct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(5)
Put A value from equation (4) into equation (5), then we get
a = (Ac + Am sin ωmt) sin ωct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(6)
This is an equation of amplitude modulated (AM) wave.

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Modulation index of amplitude modulation

Modulation index or modulation depth describes how the amplitude,

frequency or phase of the carrier signal and message signal affects
the amplitude, frequency or phase of the modulated signal.
Amplitude modulation index describes how the amplitude of the carrier
signal and message signal affects the amplitude of the amplitude
modulated (AM) signal.
or
Amplitude modulation index is defined as the ratio of the maximum
amplitude of message signal to the maximum amplitude of carrier
signal. I.e.,

Where,
Am is the maximum amplitude of the message signal
Ac is the maximum amplitude of the carrier signal
The maximum amplitude of the message signal must be less than the
maximum amplitude of the carrier signal to avoid any distortion in the
modulated signal. For example, if the carrier signal amplitude is 5 volts
then the message signal amplitude must be less than 5 volts. The
maximum value of the modulation index will be equal to one
when Am = Ac. The minimum value of the modulation index will be
zero. If modulation index is higher than 1, then it is called
overmodulation. In overmodulation, the data loss will occur. When
modulation index is expressed in percentage, it is also called percentage
modulation.
Calculation of Modulation Index from Amplitude Modulated (AM)
waveform
The below figure shows the amplitude modulated (AM) waveform
through which we can calculate the modulation index.
It is clear from the below figure that the modulating signal rides above
the carrier signal.

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From the above figure, we can write,

The above equation (I.e. eq 5 ) gives the technique of calculating

modulation index from amplitude modulated (AM) wave.

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Modulation Index or Modulation Depth Examples

The maximum amplitude of the message signal must be less than (or

equal to) the maximum amplitude of the carrier signal to avoid any

distortion in the modulated signal. For example, if the carrier signal

amplitude is 5 volts then the message signal amplitude must be less

than (or equal to) 5 volts. Hence, the maximum value of the modulation

index will be less than one or equal to one (Mi<=1) when Am <= Ac.

The minimum value of the modulation index will be zero.

Based on this, there are three types of modulation:

1. Perfect-Modulation

2. Under-Modulation

3. Over-Modulation

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Perfect-Modulation:

Perfect-modulation occurs when the maximum amplitude of the message

signal or modulating signal is exactly equal to the maximum amplitude
of the carrier signal (Am = Ac).
The modulation index is the ratio of the maximum amplitude of the
message signal to the maximum amplitude of carrier signal. For
example, if the message signal maximum amplitude is 4 volts and carrier
signal maximum amplitude is also 4 volts, then the ratio of modulating
signal amplitude (4 volts) to the carrier signal amplitude (4 volts) is
equal to 1. Therefore, the modulation index in perfect-modulation is
equal to one (Mi = 1).

The modulation index is also known as the modulation depth. The

perfect-modulation has a modulation depth of 100%. In perfect-
modulation, the carrier level falls to zero. Perfect-modulation causes no
distortion.

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Under-Modulation:

Under-modulation occurs when the maximum amplitude of the message

signal or modulating signal is less than the maximum amplitude of the
carrier signal (Am < Ac).
The modulation index is the ratio of the maximum amplitude of the
message signal to the maximum amplitude of carrier signal. For
example, if the message signal maximum amplitude is 2 volts and carrier
signal maximum amplitude is 4 volts, then the ratio of modulating signal
amplitude (2 volts) to the carrier signal amplitude (4 volts) is equal to
0.5. Therefore, the modulation index in under-modulation is less than
one (Mi < 1). The under-modulation has a modulation depth of less than
100%. In under-modulation, the carrier level falls above zero. Under-
modulation causes no distortion.

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Over-Modulation:

Over-modulation occurs when the maximum amplitude of the message

signal or modulating signal is greater than the maximum amplitude of
the carrier signal (Am > Ac).
The modulation index is the ratio of the maximum amplitude of the
message signal to the maximum amplitude of carrier signal. For
example, if the message signal maximum amplitude is 6 volts and carrier
signal maximum amplitude is 4 volts, then the ratio of modulating signal
amplitude (6 volts) to the carrier signal amplitude (4 volts) is equal to
1.5. Therefore, the modulation index in over-modulation is greater than
one (Mi > 1). The over-modulation has a modulation depth of greater
than 100%. In over-modulation, the carrier wave experiences 180° phase
reversals where the carrier level falls below the zero point.

Over-modulation causes severe distortion of the waveform of the

message signal which results in data loss. Over-modulation is one of the
reasons why amplitude modulation is no longer used to transmit high-
quality sound signals. At the transmitter, limiters are included which
prevent more than 100% modulation.

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Frequency Spectrum of Amplitude Modulation

The carrier is an un-modulated sinewave which has a single value of

frequency (eg: 3 MHz) and carries no useful information. When such a
carrier is modulated with a message signal, other frequencies can be
detected in it. These new frequencies that are caused by modulation are
called sidebands. These sidebands are created above and below the
carrier frequency.

The sidebands that are created above the carrier frequency are called
upper sidebands and the sidebands that are created below the carrier
frequency are called lower sidebands.

I.e. fUSB = fc + fm and fLSB = fc – fm

Where, fc is the carrier frequency
fm is the message signal frequency
fLSB is lower sideband frequency
fUSB is upper sideband frequency

To see how it works, take the example of a carrier of 800 kHz frequency
which is modulated by a message signal (audio signal) of 10 kHz
frequency. The process of modulating a carrier signal with message
signal is same as mixing two signals together. As a result of modulation,
two sideband frequencies are produced.

One sideband frequencies are created above the carrier frequency. These
sidebands are known as upper sidebands or sum frequencies. The upper
sidebands are created due to the addition of carrier signal frequency (800
kHz) with the message signal frequency (10 kHz)
I.e. 800 kHz + 10 kHz = 810 kHz.

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Another sideband frequencies are created below the carrier
frequency. These sidebands are known as lower sidebands or difference
frequencies. The lower sidebands are created due to the subtraction of
message signal frequency (10kHz) with the carrier signal frequency (800
kHz) I.e. 800 kHz – 10 kHz = 790 kHz.
I.e. 10 kHz frequency is produced above and below the carrier.
Consider the expression of AM (amplitude modulated) wave given by
equation (6)
a = (Ac + Am sin ωmt) sin ωct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1)
We know that Mi = Am / Ac. Hence we have Am = Mi Ac.
Putting this value of Am in above equation (1) we get,
a = (Ac + Mi Ac sin ωmt) sin ωct
= Ac (1 + Mi sin ωmt) sin ωct
= Ac sin ωct + Ac Mi sin ωmt sin ωct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(2)

In the above equation, the first term represents unmodulated carrier, the
second term represents lower sideband and the last term represents upper
sideband.

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Note that ωc = 2πfc and ωm = 2πfm. Hence, the above equation (3) can
also be written as

From these above equations (4) and (5), we can prepare the frequency
spectrum of AM wave as shown in the below figure.

This contains the full carrier and both the sidebands. Hence, it is also
called Double Sideband Full Carrier (DSBFC) system.

Bandwidth of Amplitude Modulation

The bandwidth of the signal can be obtained by taking the difference

between the highest and lowest frequencies of the signal. From the
above figure, we can obtain the bandwidth of AM wave as,

BW = fUSB – fLSB
= (fc + fm) – (fc – fm)
BW = 2 fm

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Advantages of Amplitude Modulation

1. Few components needed: At the receiver side, the original signal is

extracted (demodulated) using a circuit consisting of very few
components.
2. Low cost: The components used in amplitude modulation is very
cheap. So, the AM transmitter and AM receiver build at low cost.
3. It is simple to implement.
4. Long distance communication: Amplitude modulated waves can
travel a longer distance.

Disadvantages of Amplitude Modulation

1. Amplitude modulation is inefficient in terms of its power

usage: As we know that the message signal contains information
whereas the carrier signal does not contain any information. In
amplitude modulation, most of the power is concentrated in the carrier
signal which contains no information. At the receiver side, the power
consumed by the carrier wave is wasted.
2. It requires high bandwidth: The amplitude modulation is not
efficient in terms of its use of bandwidth. It requires a bandwidth equal
to twice that of the highest audio signal frequency.
3. This type of transmission can be easily affected by the external
radiation.
4. This type of transmission is also affected by the man-made noises or
radiations like waves from other antennas or channels.
5. Amplitude modulation (AM) cannot be used for transmitting music as
done by frequency modulation (FM).
6. Amplitude modulation cannot be used for transmission of sensitive
information like in the army, where interpretation or loss or disruption
during transmission is not an option.
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Applications of Amplitude Modulation

1. Air band radio: The amplitude modulation is extensively used in

aerospace industry. The VHF (Very High Frequency)
transmissions made by the airborne equipment still use amplitude
modulation. The radio contact between ground to ground and also
ground to air use amplitude modulated (AM) signals.

2. Broadcast transmission: Amplitude modulation (AM) is still

widely used for broadcasting either short or medium or long wave
bands.

3. Quadrature amplitude modulation: Amplitude modulation is

used in the transmission of data of almost everything, from short-
range transmission such as wifi to cellular communications.
Quadrature amplitude modulation is formed by mixing two carriers
that are out of phase by 90°.

4. Single sideband: The amplitude modulation (AM) in the form of

single sideband is still used for HF (High Frequency) radio links.

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