Get ready for the FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL) exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and detailed explanations. Prepare effectively for your licensing test!

Multiple Choice

Where along a half-wave antenna is the current minimum and the voltage maximum?

In a resonant half-wave dipole, the current and voltage form a standing wave along the length. The current peaks at the center (the feed point) and drops to zero at the ends, while the voltage is smallest at the center and reaches its maximum at the ends. So the current is minimum and the voltage maximum at the ends. This happens because the ends act as current nodes where the current cannot flow past the conductor, causing charge to accumulate and voltage to rise there, while the center is a voltage node with maximum current.

In a resonant half-wave dipole, the current and voltage form a standing wave along the length. The current peaks at the center (the feed point) and drops to zero at the ends, while the voltage is smallest at the center and reaches its maximum at the ends. So the current is minimum and the voltage maximum at the ends. This happens because the ends act as current nodes where the current cannot flow past the conductor, causing charge to accumulate and voltage to rise there, while the center is a voltage node with maximum current.