Question:easy

Over modulation occurs when modulation index 'm' is:

Show Hint

$m=1$ is 100 % modulation; $m>1$ is over-modulation (distortion).
Updated On: Jun 10, 2026
  • $m > 1$
  • $m < 1$
  • $m = 1$
  • $m = 0$
Show Solution

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Recall modulation index.
In amplitude modulation, a message signal rides on a carrier wave. The modulation index $m$ measures how strongly the message changes the carrier's amplitude.

Step 2: Write its meaning.
The modulation index is the ratio of the message signal amplitude to the carrier amplitude: $m = \dfrac{A_m}{A_c}$.

Step 3: Look at the healthy range.
When $m$ is between 0 and 1, the carrier amplitude stays positive at all times and the signal is recovered cleanly without distortion.

Step 4: Look at what happens above 1.
If $m$ grows larger than 1, the message amplitude is bigger than the carrier amplitude. The envelope of the wave then crosses zero and folds over.

Step 5: Name this condition.
This folding distorts the signal and is called over-modulation. The recovered message no longer matches the original.

Step 6: State the condition.
So over-modulation happens when the modulation index is greater than 1, that is $m > 1$. \[ \boxed{m > 1} \]
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