IIT Gandhinagar

EE 311 Electromagnetic Waves Fall 2015

Dr. Ravi S. Hegde
Midterm exam, September 2015

Name: Score:

1. (8 points) For the fully general Maxwell’s equations,

(a) (1 point) If the volume charge density ρv and current density J are non-zero then show
that:
∂ ρv
∇·J+ = 0, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1)
∂t
is always satisfied.
(b) (1 point) Show that the equation for the magnetic flux density given by
B = ∇ × M, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2)
is always true for any arbitrary vector field M.
(c) (3 points) In the time-harmonic case, we can assume a time dependence of the form e jωt ,
then using equation 2 we can write:
∇ × (E + jωM) = 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (3)
Ultimately, we can express E in terms of an arbitrary scalar function ψ and the vector field
M as:
E = − jωM − ∇ψ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (4)
Show that under the condition ∇ · M = − jω µεψ, using the Maxwell’s equation ∇ × H =
J + jωD leads to the following simple equation for M:
∇2 M + k2 M = J, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (5)
where k = ω 2 µε.
(d) (3 points) By taking the divergence of equation 4 and eliminating M by using ∇ · M =
− jω µεψ, show that the scalar field ψ satisfies the following equation:
ρv
∇2 ψ + k2 ψ = , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6)
ε
where k = ω 2 µε.

2. (7 points) A lossless transmission-line with a real characteristic impedance Zc is terminated

with a load composed of a resistor R and an inductor L connected in series. What is the value
of the real number Zc that will minimize the standing wave ratio S on the transmission line?
(Hint: First establish that S is a monotonically varying function of Γ, the reflection coefficient.
This means that minimizing S also minimizes |Γ| (and |Γ|2 ); then try to use this fact to simplify
the determination of the minimum)

3. (5 points) A load of 20 Ω is connected to a generator with an internal resistance of 60 Ω

through a lossless transmission-line with characteristic impedance Zc and length l that satisfies
β l = π/2. Find the characteristic impedance Zc that will maximize the power delivered to the
load (Zin = Zg ). What is the standing wave ratio S on the transmission line for this value of Zc .

4. (10 points) A lossless transmission-line with characteristic impedance Zc2 is connected to a

shorter section of another transmission line with a characteristic impedance Zc1 and length

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 EE 115 Electromagnetic Waves Fall 2015
Midterm (Continued)

l1 before being terminated with a purely resistor load of RL Ohms (see figure 1). The length
l1 = λp/4 at the frequency f0 . The characteristic impedance Zc1 satisfies the relationship
Zc1 = Zc2 RL .
(a) (1 point) What are the standing wave ratios S1 and S2 observed on the transmission line
segments at the frequency f0 ?
(b) (5 points) What is the relationship between the forward V1+ , backward V1− to V2+ at
frequency f0 ?
(c) (4 points) As we change the operating frequency f to be different from f0 , what happens
to the standing wave ratios S1 and S2 ? Obtain a relationship for the ratios in terms of ∆ f ,
where f = f0 ± ∆ f and ∆ f << f0 .

V+2 V-2 V+1 V-1

ZC2 ZC1 RL

z = -l1 z=0
Line2 Line1

Figure 1: The figure showing a transmission line terminated with a resistor load through a short
segment of a second transmission line.

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