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Electromagnetic Wave Fundamentals

The document discusses fundamentals of electromagnetic wave propagation. It defines electromagnetic waves as electrical energy that has escaped into free space and travels at the speed of light in straight lines. Key characteristics of electromagnetic waves include frequency, intensity, direction of travel, and plane of polarization. The document also covers characteristics such as wavelength, frequency, polarization, reflection, refraction, diffraction, and interference.

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UMEESS
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107 views

Electromagnetic Wave Fundamentals

The document discusses fundamentals of electromagnetic wave propagation. It defines electromagnetic waves as electrical energy that has escaped into free space and travels at the speed of light in straight lines. Key characteristics of electromagnetic waves include frequency, intensity, direction of travel, and plane of polarization. The document also covers characteristics such as wavelength, frequency, polarization, reflection, refraction, diffraction, and interference.

Uploaded by

UMEESS
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Fundamentals of

Electromagnetic Wave
Propagation
 Wave
➢Can be defined as a disturbance (sound, light,
radio wave) that moves through a medium.
 Electromagnetic Wave
➢Electrical energy that has escaped into free
space
➢Travel in a straight line at approximately the
speed of light and are made up of magnetic and
electric fields that are right angle to each other
and at right angles to the direction of
propagation
➢Essential properties: Frequency, Intensity,
Direction of Travel, Plane of Polarization
 Radiation
➢Is the loss or escape of energy into free space.
 Radio Wave
➢A form of electromagnetic radiation similar to
light and heat
➢Differ from other radiation in the manner in
which they are generated and detected and in
frequency range.
➢Consists of travelling electric and magnetic
fields with the energy evenly divided between
two types of fields.
Free space
➢ is space that does not interfere
with the normal radiation and
propagation of radio waves.
➢Thus, it has no magnetic or
gravitational fields, no solid bodies
and no ionized particles.
 Electromagnetic Wave Characteristics
A. Space- Time Relationship
➢An electromagnetic wave has two components:
an electric field and magnetic field. Each
component varies sinusoidally in time at affixed
point in space.
➢Both the electric and magnetic components of
the wave are “in phase” in space, that is, their
maxima and minima occur at the same intervals
of the z-axis.
 Electromagnetic Wave Characteristics
A. Space- Time Relationship
 Electromagnetic Wave Characteristics
B. Wave Velocity
➢Waves travel at characteristic speeds depending
on the type of wave and the nature of the
propagation of the medium.
➢Electromagnetic waves travel the fastest in free
space, but may travel slowly in other
propagation media.
 Electromagnetic Wave Characteristics

C. Wavelength and Frequency


❖Wavelength
➢ is the distance that a radio wave travels in
the time of one cycle.
❖Frequency
➢ is the number of cycles per second of a radio
wave
 Electromagnetic Wave Characteristics

D. Polarization
➢ is the orientation of the electric field vector
in respect to the Earth’s surface
1. Linear Polarization – waves have the same
alignment in space.
a. Horizontal Polarization – if the electric field
is propagating parallel to Earth’s surface
b. Vertical Polarization - if the electric field is
propagating perpendicular to Earth’s surface
 Electromagnetic Wave Characteristics
2. Circular Polarization
➢ if the polarization vector rotates 360º as the
wave moves one wavelength through space
and field strength is equal at all angles of
polarization.
3. Elliptical Polarization
➢ electric vector rotates about the axis of the
direction of propagation but the amplitudes of
its two linearly polarized components are not
equal.
 Electromagnetic Wave Characteristics

E. Rays and Wavefronts


➢ Aid to illustrating the effects of electromagnetic wave
propagation through free space
❖Ray – is a line drawn along the direction of
electromagnetic wave propagation.
❖Wavefront – shows a surface of constant phase of
electromagnetic source are joined together.
 Electromagnetic Wave Characteristics
E. Rays and Wavefronts
❖ ElectricField Intensity(E) and Magnetic Field
Intensity (H)
➢ Electric field intensity is directly proportional to the
square root of the power density and inversely
proportional to the distance from the source.

𝟑𝟎𝑷𝑻
E= , 𝑽/𝒎
𝒅

𝑬
H= , A/m
𝟑𝟕𝟕
Example:

What is the electric field strength in millivolts


per meter if the transmitted power is 30kW, at a
distance of 5km?
Example:

A signal has a power density of 500mW/m^2 in


free space. Calculate its electric and magnetic
field strengths.
❖ Attenuation (𝜶)
➢Reduction in power density as waves
propagate through space when they spread
out.
➢It is also called space attenuation.
➢It is proportional to the square of the distance
travelled.
➢Since power density decreases with distance,
we can say that electromagnetic waves are
attenuated as they travel outward from their
source.
❖ Absorption
➢Some of the energy from the electromagnetic
waves is transferred to the atoms and
molecules of the atmosphere thereby causing
some radio waves to be absorbed.
➢If humidity is increased or if there is fog, rain,
or snow, then absorption is greatly increased
and reflection from rainwater drops may even take.
➢Atmospheric absorption of electromagnetic
waves of frequencies below about 10 GHz is
quite insignificant.
❖ Absorption
➢For example, a radar system operating at 10 GHz
may have a range of 75 km in dry air, 68 km in
light drizzle, 55 km in light rain, 22 km in moderate
rain and 8 km in heavy rain, showing effectively
how precipitation causes severe absorption at
microwave frequencies.
❖ Atmospheric Absorption of Electromagnetic Waves.
❖ Absorption
➢Frequencies such as 60 and 120 GHz are not
recommended for long-distance propagation
in the atmosphere.
➢It is similarly best not to use 23 or 180 GHz
either, except in very dry air.
➢So-called windows exist at which absorption is
greatly reduced; frequencies such as 33 and
110 GHz fall into this category.
A. Reflection
➢Bouncing of electromagnetic waves in a
smooth surface
❖Reflection Coefficient (coefficient of reflection)
➢Is defined as the ratio of the electric intensity
of the reflected wave to that of the incident
wave.
➢Measure how well the system is matched.
Example:

Find the reflection coefficient for a


transmission line with incident voltage Vi
= 0.15V and reflected voltage of 0.0005V
B. Refraction
➢It is defined as the bending of a ray as it passes
from one medium to another at an angle.
➢Occurs when a radio wave passes from one
medium into another medium of different density.
➢The degree of bending of a wave at boundaries
increases with frequency.
❖Refractive Index (n)
➢ amount of bending or refraction that occurs at
the interface of two materials of different
densities.
C. Diffraction
➢It is defined as the bending of a ray that is
travelling in a straight path as it hits an obstacle
(either an edge of an object or an opening)
➢This is caused largely by the spreading of the
wave around the obstacle and by the interference
of one part of the beam with another.
D. Interference
➢ Occurs when two or more wave electromagnetic
waves combine in such a way that system
performance is degraded.

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