What occurs when there is an impedance mismatch between coaxial cable and the load?

When there is an impedance mismatch between coaxial cable and the load, some signal energy is indeed transferred to the load while the rest is reflected back towards the source. This phenomenon is due to the fact that electrical signals behave according to principles of transmission lines, and when the load impedance does not match the characteristic impedance of the cable, part of the signal cannot be absorbed.

In such cases, the load can only absorb a portion of the incoming signal, while the mismatch causes some of the signal energy to reflect back. This reflection can be quantitatively analyzed using concepts like the reflection coefficient and return loss, which provide a measure of how much energy is being reflected versus transmitted. The result of this is that not all energy is effectively utilized at the load, leading to potential signal degradation or interference in communication applications.

Understanding this concept is important in fields such as telecommunications and broadcasting, where maintaining signal integrity is crucial. Impedance matching techniques may be employed to minimize reflection and maximize power transfer, thereby enhancing overall system performance.