🔍 Key Concepts

• RF amplifier stages in a receiver and why they are separated physically or with metal partitions • Difference between electromagnetic coupling (magnetic/inductive or RF energy through space) and electrostatic coupling (capacitive coupling) • How unwanted coupling between stages affects receiver stability (oscillation, feedback, distortion)

💭 Think About

• Think about what happens if RF energy from one amplifier stage leaks into another stage that is not supposed to receive it—what problems could this cause? • Consider whether metal shielding around or between stages blocks only one type of coupling (electromagnetic vs electrostatic), or both. • Ask yourself: if you reduce both kinds of unwanted coupling, what is the main overall effect on how the receiver behaves?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify what shielding (usually metal) physically does to electric fields and magnetic/RF fields. • Check how unwanted feedback between RF stages can lead to oscillation or instability in receivers. • Confirm whether the question is asking about a single effect or about all applicable effects of shielding between RF stages.