Amplitude Modulation (AM) is a technique used to encode digital data into analog signals by varying the wave's amplitude. Imagine the carrier wave as a smooth wave-like curve that travels over time. With AM, this curve is adjusted based on the digital information it needs to represent. For illustration:
- A '1' might correspond to a high amplitude, which means the wave would appear taller or more intense.
- A '0' could be a low amplitude, making the wave seem shorter and less intense.
In the case of the 5-bit sequence 11001, each bit is mapped to a specific amplitude level:
- The first '1' causes the carrier wave to have a high amplitude,
- The second '1' maintains this high amplitude,
- The third '0' shifts it to a low amplitude,
- The fourth '0' continues with the low amplitude,
- Finally, the last '1' returns the wave to a high amplitude.
This modulation technique effectively allows digital information to travel across mediums that mainly support analog signals, like radio waves.