As frequency of signals increases, what happens to the measured loss?

As the frequency of signals increases, the measured loss in a transmission medium typically increases. This phenomenon occurs due to several factors inherent in the physical properties of the medium through which the signals are transmitted.

Higher frequency signals tend to experience greater attenuation because they interact more with the materials that make up the transmission medium, such as copper or fiber optics. This interaction can lead to losses from effects like scattering, dielectric loss, and resistance, which become more pronounced at higher frequencies.

Additionally, at elevated frequencies, the nature of signal propagation changes. For instance, in cables, skin effect becomes more significant, causing the higher frequency currents to travel primarily along the surface of the conductor, which increases resistance and thus loss.

In summary, as the frequency of a signal increases, the physical characteristics of the medium lead to higher losses, making it essential to consider these factors in designing and maintaining communication systems.