ASSIGNMENT 21: ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

QUESTION 1

Small sailing boats can be fitted with a passive radar device. The device increases the chance that the small
boat will be seen on the radar screen of a large ship.

The radar transmitter on the large ship emits microwaves.

Microwaves and radio waves are both part of the electromagnetic spectrum

(a) State two differences between radio waves and microwaves

(2 marks)

(b) How fast do microwaves travel through the air or a vacuum compared to radio waves?

(1 mark)

(c) Determine the wavelength of a microwave which has a frequency of 2400 megahertz

(2 marks)
QUESTION 2

The diagram below represents an electromagnetic wave travelling through a vacuum.

Field

vertical

horizontal

Field

(a) Describe an electromagnetic wave travelling in a vacuum

(3 marks)

(b) State the plane of polarisation of the electromagnetic wave shown

(1 mark)

(c) What is meant when an electromagnetic wave is described as 'plane-polarised'?

(2 marks)

(d) Determine the frequency of this e/m wave if it moves with a wavelength of 5.50 cm

(2 marks)
QUESTION 3

The diagram below shows two identical polarising filters, A and B, and an unpolarised light source.

The arrows indicate the plane in which the electric field of the wave oscillates.

(a) If polarised light is reaching the observer, draw the direction of the transmission axis on filter B on
the diagram above.
(1 mark)

(b) Explain how a polarised light source differs from an unpolarised light source.

(2 marks)

(c) The polarising filter B is rotated clockwise through 360º about line XY from the position shown in
Figure 3.

On the axes below, sketch how the light intensity reaching the observer varies as this is done

(2 marks)
QUESTION 4

A laser airborne depth sounder (LADS) has been used to measure the depth of a body of water.

water surface

sea floor

(a) Explain how the laser airborne depth sounder (LADS) is used to determine the depth of a body of
water.

(6 marks)
(b) State two properties of laser light that make it useful in LADS.

(2 marks)

(c) The laser pulses are detected 2.52 s and 2.88 after transmission.

The speed of the light in the water is 2.30 × 10 m. s "#

Calculate the depth of the water.

(4 marks)

(d) A powerful laser is used in the LADS system.

State two factors that limit the maximum depth of water that can be determined by such a system.

(2 marks)

END OF ASSIGNMENT
ASSIGNMENT 21: ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

QUESTION 1

Small sailing boats can be fitted with a passive radar device. The device increases the chance that the small
boat will be seen on the radar screen of a large ship.

The radar transmitter on the large ship emits microwaves.

Microwaves and radio waves are both part of the electromagnetic spectrum

(a) State two differences between radio waves and microwaves

Radio waves have longer wavelengths and lower frequencies than microwaves
(2 marks)

(b) How fast do microwaves travel through the air or a vacuum compared to radio waves?

Same speed (1 mark)

(c) Determine the wavelength of a microwave which has a frequency of 2400 megahertz

c
λ
f
3.00 x 10
λ
2400 x 10"
(2 marks)
λ 0.125 m
QUESTION 2

The diagram below represents an electromagnetic wave travelling through a vacuum.

$%& Field

vertical

horizontal

%& Field
'

(a) Describe an electromagnetic wave travelling in a vacuum

An electromagnetic wave consists of oscillating electric and magnetic fields

These fields oscillate at right angles to each other and perpendicular to the direction of
propagation (travel) of the wave.

These fields recreate one another and move at the speed of light.

(3 marks)

(b) State the plane of polarisation of the electromagnetic wave shown

Vertical (as electric field is plane polarised in vertical direction) (1 mark)

(c) What is meant when an electromagnetic wave is described as 'plane-polarised'?

If a wave is plane polarised, the oscillating electric (or magnetic) field is restricted to a
single plane of vibration.
(2 marks)

(d) Determine the frequency of this e/m wave if it moves with a wavelength of 5.50 cm

c
f
λ
3.00 x 10
f
0.0550
(2 marks)
f 5.46 x 102 Hz
QUESTION 3

The diagram below shows two identical polarising filters, A and B, and an unpolarised light source.

The arrows indicate the plane in which the electric field of the wave oscillates.

(a) If polarised light is reaching the observer, draw the direction of the transmission axis on filter B on
the diagram above.
ON DIAGRAM

(b) Explain how a polarised light source differs from an unpolarised light source.

Polarised light sources emit e/m waves in a single direction

Unpolarised light sources emit e/m waves which travel in more than one direction

(2 marks)

(c) The polarising filter B is rotated clockwise through 360º about line XY from the position shown in
Figure 3.

On the axes below, sketch how the light intensity reaching the observer varies as this is done
QUESTION 4

A laser airborne depth sounder (LADS) has been used to measure the depth of a body of water.

water surface

sea floor

(a) Explain how the laser airborne depth sounder (LADS) is used to determine the depth of a body of
water.

Two laser pulses are emitted.

The first (lower energy) reflects from the surface of the water and returns to the detector
on-board the plane.

The second pulse (higher energy) propagates through the water and is reflected from the
sea floor and returns to the detector aboard the plane.

The time delay between the two pulses is recorded.

The difference in time between the arrival of the two pulses is recorded and is equal to the
time the second (higher energy) laser pulse was inside the body of water.

If we know the speed at which the laser travels in the sea water, ?&, then we can calculate the
depth of the seawater, d.

(6 marks)
(b) State two properties of laser light that make it useful in LADS.

The light is POWERFUL (high intensity), and monochromatic

(2 marks)

(c) The laser pulses are detected 2.52 @s and 2.88 @B after transmission.

The speed of the light in the water is 2.30 × 10 m. s DE

Calculate the depth of the water.

d
v
t
d vt

d 2.30 x 10 x (2.88 x 10D" − 2.52 x 10D" )

d 82.8 m

This is the total distance from the laser to the sea floor and back again ∴ depth of water is
half the calculated distance above:

d 82.8 ÷ 2 41.4 m

(4 marks)

(d) A powerful laser is used in the LADS system.

State two factors that limit the maximum depth of water that can be determined by such a system.

Absorption by sediment,

scattering of laser light by sediment,

turbidity of the water,

uneven nature of the bottom of the sea bed,

(2 marks)
depth of the ocean,

altitude of the plane,

END OF ASSIGNMENT
intensity of the laser.