How Does Airplane Reflection Affect TV Signal Interference?

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Television and radio waves can reflect off airplanes, causing interference with direct signals from stations. In the first scenario, with a plane 134 m above the receiver, the reflection leads to a phase change that can result in either constructive or destructive interference, depending on the path lengths. The second scenario, with the plane 42 m closer, alters the interference pattern due to the shorter distance, potentially enhancing the effect of the reflected signal. Users are encouraged to create diagrams to visualize the wave paths and determine the type of interference. The reflection from the airplane may also weaken the signal due to spreading.
Charlestonprince

Homework Statement


July 22,2017. Homework Statement Television and radio waves can reflect from nearby mountains or from airplanes. Such relfections can interfere with the direct signal from the station. a. Determine what kind of interference will occur when 75-MHz television signals arrive at a receiver directly from a distant station and are also reflected from an airplane 134 m directly above the receiver. (Assume a wavelength/2 change in phase of the wave upon reflection.) Explain your reasoning. b. Determine what kind of interference will occur if the plane is 42 m closer to the receiver. Explain your reasoning.

Homework Equations


v=f*wavelength v=3.00 X 10^8 m/s

The Attempt at a Solution


The attempt at a solution I found the wavelength, which is 4 m. I don't know what to do next. Can someone help me please? I don't know how you would know if it is in phase or not
 
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Charlestonprince said:

Homework Statement


July 22,2017. Homework Statement Television and radio waves can reflect from nearby mountains or from airplanes. Such relfections can interfere with the direct signal from the station. a. Determine what kind of interference will occur when 75-MHz television signals arrive at a receiver directly from a distant station and are also reflected from an airplane 134 m directly above the receiver. (Assume a wavelength/2 change in phase of the wave upon reflection.) Explain your reasoning. b. Determine what kind of interference will occur if the plane is 42 m closer to the receiver. Explain your reasoning.

Homework Equations


v=f*wavelength v=3.00 X 10^8 m/s

The Attempt at a Solution


The attempt at a solution I found the wavelength, which is 4 m. I don't know what to do next. Can someone help me please? I don't know how you would know if it is in phase or not
Welcome to the PF. :smile:

Draw a diagram of each situation. Then label each path with the number of wavelengths along each path. Then include the information about the inversion of the reflected wave, and figure out if you have constructive or desructive interference at the receiver from the reflected signal.

BTW, even if it looks like the distances in one of the situations would result in wave cancellation at the receiver, remember that the reflection off the aircraft will likely weaken that signal, since it spreads out from the reflecting object (in this case the round aircraft hull).

Please show us your sketches and your work. Thank you.
 
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