Chapter 14: Electromagnetic Wave Propagation - Review Notes

1. Propagation of electromagnetic waves often called radio-frequency (RF) propagation or

simply radio propagation. Free-space
2. Electrical energy that has escaped into free space. Electromagnetic wave
3. The orientation of the electric field vector in respect to the surface of the Earth.
Polarization
4. Polarization remains constant Linear Polarization
5. Forms of Linear polarization Horizontal Polarization and Vertical Polarization
6. Polarization vector rotates 360◦ as the wave moves one wave-length through the space
and the field strength is equal at all angles of polarization. Circular Polarization
7. Field strength varies with changes in polarization. Elliptical Polarization
8. Used to show the relative direction of electromagnetic wave propagation. Rays
9. Formed when two points of equal phase on rays propagated from the same source is
joined together. Wavefront
10.A single location from which rays propagate equally in all directions. Point source
11.Invisible force field produced by a magnet, such as a conductor when current is flowing
through. Magnetic Field
12.Strength of a magnetic field (H) produced around a conductor is expressed
mathematically as:
H = 1/2πd
13.Invisible force fields produced by a difference in voltage potential between two
conductors. Electric fields
14.Electric filed strength (E) is expressed mathematically as: E = q/4πЄd2
15.Dielectric constant of the material separating the two conductors. Permittivity
16.The permittivity of air or free space is approximately. 8.85 x 10-12 F/m
17.The rate at which energy passes through a given surface area in free space. Power
density
18.Intensity of the electric and magnetic fields of an electromagnetic wave propagating in
free space. Field intensity
19.Mathematically power density is expressed as: P = €H W/m2
20.The characteristic impedance of a lossless transmission medium is equal to the square
root of the ratio of its magnetic permeability to its electric permittivity. Zs = (μo/Єo)1/2
21.Point source that radiates power at a constant rate uniformly in all directions. Isotropic
radiator
22.Power density is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source.
Inverse Square Law
23.Propagation medium. Isotropic medium
24. Waves propagate through free space; they spread out, resulting in a reduction in power
density. Attenuation
25.Reduction of Power. Absorption Loss
26.Reduction in power density with distance is equivalent to a power loss. Wave
attenuation
27.Spherical spreading of the wave. Space attenuation
28.One with uniform properties throughout. Homogeneous medium
29.Absorption coefficient varies considerably with location, thus creating a difficult
problem for radio systems engineers. Inhomogeneous medium
30.Optical properties of Radio Waves. Refraction, Reflection, Diffraction and Interference
31.Bending of the radio wave path. Refraction
32.Square root of the dielectric constant and is expressed in: Refractive index; n = (k)
33.(k) Equivalent dielectric constant relative to free space (vacuum). K = (1- 81N/f2)1/2
34.Boundary between two media with different densities. Plane
35.Imaginary line drawn perpendicular to the interface at the point of incidence. Normal
36.Angle formed between the incident wave and the normal. Angle of Incidence
37.Angle formed between the refracted wave and the normal. Angle of Refraction
38.Ratio of velocity of propagation of a light ray in free space to the velocity of propagation
of a light ray in a given material. Refractive Index
39.Perpendicular to the direction of propagation (parallel to the waveform) Density
gradient
40.To cast or turn back. Reflect
41.Ratio of the reflected to the incident voltage intensities. Reflection Coefficient
42.Portion of the total incident power that is not reflected. Power transmission Coefficient
43.Fraction of power that penetrates medium 2. Absorption coefficient
44.Incident wave front strikes an irregular surface, it is randomly scattered in many
directions. Diffuse reflection
45.Reflection from a perfectly smooth surface. Specular (mirror like) Reflection
46.Surfaces that fall between smooth and irregular. Semi-rough surfaces
47.Semi-rough surface will reflect as if it were a smooth surface whenever the cosine of the
angle of incidence is greater than λ/8d, where d is the depth of the surface irregularity
and λ is the wavelength of the incident wave. Rayleigh criterion Cos θi > λ/8d
48.Modulation or redistribution of energy within a wavefront when it passes near the edge
of an opaque object. Diffraction
49.Diffraction occurs around the edge of the obstacle, which allows secondary waves to
“sneak” around the corner of the obstacle. Shadow zone
50.States that the total voltage intensity at a given point in space is the sum of the
individual wave vectors. Linear Superposition
51.Electromagnetic waves travelling within Earth’s atmosphere. Terrestrial waves
52.Communications between two or more points on Earth. Terrestrial radio
Communications
53.Used for high-frequency applications. Sky waves
54.Earth –guided electromagnetic wave that travels over the surface of earth. Surface wave
55.Relative Conductivity of Earth Surfaces:
56. Disadvantages of surface waves.
a. Ground waves require a relatively transmission power.
b. Ground waves are limited to very low, low and medium frequencies.
c. Requiring large antennas.
d. Ground losses vary considerably with surface material and composition.
57.Advantages of ground wave propagation.
a. Given enough transmit power, round waves can be used to communicate between
any two locations in the world.
b. Ground waves are relatively unaffected by changing atmospheric conditions.
58.Travel essentially in a straight line between transmit and receive antennas. Direct waves
59.Space wave propagation with direct waves. Line-of-Sight (LOS) Transmission
60.The curvature of Earth presents a horizon to space wave propagation. Radio Horizon
61.Occurs when the density of the lower atmosphere is such that electromagnetic waves
are trapped between it and Earth’s surface. Duct propagation
62.Lowest layer of the ionosphere and is located approximately between 30 miles and 60
miles (50 km to 100 km) above Earth’s surface. D Layer
63.Located approximately between 60 miles and 85 miles (100 km to 140 km) above Earth’s
surface. E Layer
64.The upper portion of the E layer. Sporadic E layer
65.Made up of two layers, F 1 and F 2 layers. F Layer
66.Highest frequency that can be propagated directly upward and still be returned to Earth
by the ionosphere. Critical frequency
67.Maximum vertical angle at which it can be propagated and still be refracted back by the
ionosphere. Critical Angle
68.A measurement technique used to determine the critical frequency. Ionospheric
Sounding
69.Height above the Earth’s surface from which a refracted wave appears to have been
reflected. Virtual Height
70.Highest frequency that can be used for sky wave propagation between two specific
points on Earth’s surface. Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF)
71.Secant law. MUF = critical frequency/cosθi
72.Operating at a frequency of 85% of the MUF provides more reliable communications.
Optimum Working Frequency (OWF)
73.Minimum distance from a transmit antenna that a sky wave at a given frequency will be
returned to Earth. Skip distance
74.The area between where the surface waves are completely dissipated and the point
where the first sky wave returns to Earth. Quiet, or skip, zone
75.Formed by the ionosphere is raised, allowing sky waves to travel higher before being
returned to Earth. Ceiling
76.Define as the loss incurred by an electromagnetic wave as it propagates in a straight line
through a vacuum with no absorption or reflection of energy from nearby objects. Free-
space path loss
77.Occurs simply because of the inverse square law. Spreading loss
78.Variation in signal loss. Fading
79.To accommodate temporary fading, an additional loss is added to the normal path loss.
Fade margin
Fm = 30 logD + 10log (6ABf) – 10log (1-R) –70
80.The two rays in skip distance. Lower Ray and Upper or Pedersen Ray
81.It is usually of little significance as it tends to be much weaker than the lower rays
because it spreads over a much larger area than the lower ray. It also prevents the lower
ray from reaching a particular point.
Pedersen Ray
82.Electromagnetic waves are directed above the horizon level. Sky waves/Ionospheric
Propagation
83.A cyclic pattern throughout a year. 11-year sunspot cycle
84.Communications between two or more points on Earth. Terrestrial Radio
Communications
85.It states that every point on a given spherical wavefront can be considered as a
secondary point of source of electromagnetic waves from which other secondary waves
are radiated outward. Huygen’s Principle
86.It states that for a perfect reflective surface, the total reflected power must equal the
total incident power. Law of conservation of energy
87.Another term for E layer. Kennelly-Heaviside Layer
88.The source of light is a point source. Spherical Wavefront
89.The small part of spherical or cylindrical wavefront originates from a distant source like
infinity. Plane wavefront
90.The source of disturbance is a slit because all the points are equidistant from the source
and they lie on the surface of the cylinder. Cylindrical Wavefront
91.The energy is however spread over a larger surface as distance from the source
increases. Square law attenuation
92.The process of putting the mirrors of reflector telescope back in alignment. Collimation
93. It is the collective orientation is different therefore scattering results. Diffuse reflection
94. A law stating that the radio of the sines of the angles of incidence and refraction of a
wave are constant when it passes between two given media. Snell’s Law
95. What receiver signal strength?
Factors: Transmitter power, Distance from the transmitter, Tx antenna gain, Rx antenna
gain
96. Path loss considerations
Tx antenna gain, Rx antenna gain, Wave length, Distance
97. The study of light as a wave. Wave optics
98. The properties of prism, mirrors, and lenses are best understood in terms of light rays.
The ray model
99. It is the basis of ray optics. The Ray Model
100. The light behaves like neither a wave nor a particle instead light consists of
photons that have both wave-like and particle-like properties. Quantum Theory of light
101.