Ham Radio General Class Practice Test

What is the ratio of peak envelope power to average power for an unmodulated carrier?

1. 0.707

2. 1.00

3. 1.414

4. 2.00

The correct answer is: 1.00

For an unmodulated carrier, the peak envelope power (PEP) is equal to the average power. This is because, in the case of an unmodulated carrier, the signal remains constant at a fixed amplitude and does not fluctuate over time, meaning that the peak and average power values are the same. In mathematical terms, for an unmodulated carrier, average power is defined as the root mean square (RMS) voltage squared divided by the load resistance. Since the carrier doesn’t change, the peak voltage squared divided by the load resistance gives us the same value as the average power. Thus, the ratio of peak envelope power to average power is 1.00, reflecting that both values are equal. Other options represent different scenarios such as modulated signals, where peak power can exceed average power due to variations in amplitude caused by modulation types.