*Question G9B04:
What is the radiation pattern of a dipole antenna in free space in a plane containing the conductor?*  

*Correct Answer is  A: It is a figure-eight at right angles to the antenna*  

### AI Response: (may contain errors)  

A dipole antenna in free space has a specific radiation pattern that is important to understand for the Extra Class exam.

### Correct Answer: A
- **Figure-Eight at Right Angles to the Antenna**:  
  A dipole antenna radiates most strongly in directions perpendicular to its length. This results in a figure-eight pattern when viewed in a plane that contains the conductor. The maximum radiation occurs broadside to the antenna, and there is minimal radiation off the ends.

### Why Other Choices Are Incorrect:
- **Choice B: Figure-Eight Off Both Ends of the Antenna**  
  This is incorrect because the radiation is weakest off the ends of the dipole. The figure-eight pattern is broadside, not end-fire.

- **Choice C: Circle (Equal Radiation in All Directions)**  
  This is incorrect because a dipole does not radiate equally in all directions. It has nulls (areas of minimal radiation) off the ends and maximum radiation broadside.

- **Choice D: Pair of Lobes on One Side and a Single Lobe on the Other Side**  
  This is incorrect because a dipole's radiation pattern is symmetrical, not lopsided. It does not have an uneven number of lobes on different sides.

### Useful Rule of Thumb:
- **Radiation Pattern**:  
  The radiation pattern of a dipole in free space is often described as a "doughnut" shape, with the antenna running through the hole of the doughnut. This means maximum radiation is perpendicular to the antenna, forming a figure-eight pattern in the plane containing the conductor.