WAVES AND WIRELESS COMMUNICATION

A wave is a disturbance that propagates through space or space time,often transferring energy.Every wave posses frequency,speed and wavelength.Frequency refers to the number of cycles passing througth a certain point per unit time,wavelength on the other hand refers to the distance between two corresponding points on the waves.
Waves play a very important role as far as wireless communication is concerned.For a example when one is talking to somebody a distance away using a cell phone,the sound waves with which one speaks are converted into an electrical signal within the cellphone,then the antenna of the cellphone converts the electrical signal into electromagnetic waves which are propagated in space either uni directionally or omnidirectional depending on the type of antenna in use.The antenna on the receiving end captures the electromagnetic waves and converts them into electrical waves which are further converted into audible sound waves by the earpiece of the cellphone.
During this process the signal strength or the amount of energy being transferred by the wave is very critical,hence it is the desire of every engineer,technician or whoever is establishing any form of wireless communication to minimise losses in the signal strength.There are a number of threats to signal strength ,however,as they are transmitted through through the air.Objects can cause radio waves to lose signal power by their shielding effect and absorption,usually objects containing some amount of water posses greater absorption effect than dry objects.In other words humidity is direct proportion to absorption.The other factor affecting signal power of radio waves is reflection.Radio waves reflect off the surface of metals,no wonder metals find wide application in antenna production.Interference has it's own role to play as far as enhancing signal power is concerned.Destructive interference has a negative impact on signal strength while constructive interference has positive impact towards signal strength in the sense that it boost signal power of the radio waves by increasing its amplitude.
Moreover,when it comes to frequency,the higher the frequency the higher the absorption in the same vain it's true that the lower the frequency the higher the refraction.The easier way of finding out whether an object is harmful to the radio waves is by putting it in a microwave.If it gets warm then it has an absorption effect on radio waves,hence harmful to the signal.If on the other hand it remains cool then it is safe to radio waves.