Amplitude modulation

Amplitude modulation (AM) is a technique used to send information from one place to another using a radio or other electromagnetic signal. Think of it like a secret code that can be translated by a special machine called a receiver.

In AM, the information is sent by changing the height or amplitude of the radio wave. Imagine you have a stack of papers, and you need to tell someone how many papers are in the stack. With AM, you would hold the stack up higher or lower to represent the number of papers. The person receiving the information would then measure the height of the stack to decode the message.

The process of changing the amplitude of the radio waves is done using a device called a modulator. It takes the original signal, such as music or voice, and combines it with a carrier wave. The carrier wave is like the paper stack in our example - it's there to help convey the information.

Once the carrier and original signals are combined, the resulting wave is called a modulated signal. This signal can be sent through the air or down a wire, and then received by another device called a demodulator. The demodulator separates the original signal from the carrier wave, allowing the information to be decoded and played back.

Overall, amplitude modulation is a way to send information using changes in the height of a radio wave. By combining the original signal with a carrier wave and then separating them again, information can be transmitted over long distances.