Example: Exercise unit 1

The following 5-step exercise describes the method to characterize an

electromagnetic wave when it propagates in an open environment, for
this example, glass has been chosen as the propagation medium.
Table 1: Conductivity σ and electrical permittivity ε rof some media.
Media σ [S /m] εr [ ]
1. Copper 5.80 x 107 1
2. Sea water 4 80
3. Vegetable soil 1.00 x 10−2 14
4. Dry soil 1.00 x 10−4 3
5. Sweet water 1.00 x 10−3 80
6. Glass 1.00 x 10−12 4.7
ε o=8.8542 x 10−12 C2 / N m 2

1. Calculate the tangent of losses Tan (δ) and the angle of losses δ
of the medium chosen in Table 1, if through it travel an
electromagnetic wave E of frequency f =123 MHz.

σ σ 1 x 10−12 S/m −11

tan ( δ )= = = =3.11 x 10
ω ε 2 π f ε r ε o 2∗π∗123 x 10 6 Hz∗4.7∗8.8542 x 10−12 C2 /Nm2

δ =tan−1 ( 3.11 x 10−11 )=0.00000000178 °

2. According to the result obtained in point 1, classify the behavior

of the chosen medium according to one of the 5 options in Table
2:
Table 2: Classification of propagation media.
 3. According to the classification obtained in point 2 and using Table
3 shown below, calculate the following propagation parameters of
the wave in the chosen medium:

Table 3: Propagation parameters in open media.

a. Paramet Not Lost low Dielectrics with Good

er dissipative dielectric losses conductors
 jω √ με jω √ με √ jωμ(σ + j ωε) √ jω σ μo
 0 ση/2 ℜ¿) √ πf σ μ o
 ω √ με ω √ με ℑ() √ πf σ μ o
 √ μ/ε √ μ/ε √ jω μ/( σ+ j ωε) √ jω μo /σ
Propagation constant  (gamma).

¿ jω √ με = j 2 πf √ μ o μ r ε o ε r

¿ j 2 π 123 x 106 Hz √ 1.2566 x 10−6 N / A 2∗1∗8.8542 x 10−12 C 2 / N m2∗4.7=5.594317 j

b.
Media Tan(δ) δ
[°]
1. Perfect
(Not dissipative) Tan(δ) = 0 δ = 0°
dielectrics
(Lost low 0 < Tan(δ) <=
2. Good insulators 0° < δ <= 6°
dielectric) 0,1
3. Dissipative (Dielectrics with 0,1 < Tan(δ) 6° < δ <=
dielectrics losses) <= 10 84°
4. Good conductors (Good conductors) Tan(δ) > 10 84°< δ < 90°
5. Perfect (Perfect
Tan(δ) >>> 10 δ = 90°
conductors conductors)
Attenuation constant  (Alpha).

¿ σ η /2=σ √ μ /ε / 2=σ √ μo μr /ε o ε r /2

¿ 1 x 10−12 √ 1.2566 x 10−6 N / A 2∗1/8.8542 x 10−12 C 2 / N m2∗4.7 /2=8.7 x 10−11 Np /m

c. Phase constant  (Beta).

¿ ω √ με=2 πf √ μo μr ε o ε r
¿ 2 π 123 x 106 Hz √ 1.2566 x 10−6 N / A 2∗1∗8.8542 x 10−12 C 2 / N m2∗4.7=5.594317 Rad /m

d. Intrinsic impedance  (Eta).

η=√ μ /ε =√ μo μ r / ε o ε r

η=√ 1.2566 x 10−6 N / A 2∗1/8.8542 x 10−12 C2 / N m2∗4.7 =173.946422 Ω

4. According to the results obtained in point 3 and using the

following equations, calculate the propagation characteristics of
the wave in the chosen medium:

ω 2 πf 2 π 123 x 106 Hz 8
a. Propagation speed: v p = = = =1.381459 x 10 m/ s.
β β 5.594317 Rad /m

2π 2π
b. Wavelength: λ= = =1.1231m
β 5.594317 Rad /m

v p 1.381459 x 108 m/s

c. Speed factor: f v = = 8
=4.6049 x 10−1
Co 3 x 10 m/s

1 1
d. Refractive index: n= f = =2.1716
v 4.6049 x 10−1

5. According to the parameters obtained in the previous points and

knowing that the maximum value of the E wave is 120 V /m,
calculate:

a. The penetration depth:

1
δ p=
1
¿ α ∨¿= ¿
Np/m∨¿=1.1498 x 10 10 m¿
−11
¿ 8.7 x 10

2 ¿
b. The power transmitted: Po =¿ E xo ∨ 2∨η∨¿ cos θ =¿¿ ¿ ¿ ¿
η

c. The
−11
−2 αx
% losses (1 m )=( 1−e )∗100 %=( 1−e−2∗8.7 x10 Np/ m∗1 m
)∗100 %=1.7 x 10−8 %