Task 2 - Electromagnetic waves in bounded open media

Individual Work

Student name:

Luisa Fernanda Pulido Rincón

Group:

203058_21

Identification number

1.014.264.817

UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL ABIERTA Y A DISTANCIA UNAD

Escuela de Ciencias Básicas, Tecnología e Ingeniería

Teoría Electromagnética y Ondas

2020 16-01
 Introduction

In this work you will find definitions about Refraction, Reflection, Modes of
Propagation of electromagnetic waves, the polarization of an electromagnetic wave
and applicable exercises of these concepts to clarify their importance also based on
Snell's Law.
Electromagnetic waves have a very large difference compared to body waves: they do
not require a material medium to propagate. This means that an electromagnetic
wave can propagate in a vacuum, and it is precisely what allows radio waves to be
used for communication in space.
 Questions: (write with your own words)

1. What are the modes of propagation of electromagnetic waves?

The propagation modes refer to each of the possible configurations adopted by the
electromagnetic waves that travel through the waveguide.
A mode of propagation is characterized by satisfying certain boundary conditions. In
theory there are an infinite number of modes of propagation and each has its cutoff
frequency from which it exists. The propagation modes depend on the wavelength, its
polarization and the dimensions of the guide. As each mode has an associated cutoff
frequency, the frequency of the signal to be transmitted must be greater than the
cutoff frequency, thus the electromagnetic energy will be transmitted through the
guide without attenuation.

2. What does it mean to polarize an electromagnetic wave?

Electromagnetic polarization is a property of waves that can oscillate in more than one
orientation. This normally refers to the so-called transverse waves, electromagnetic
waves are usually referred to, although it can also occur in transverse mechanical
waves.

The polarization of a wave is the geometric figure determined by the end of the vector
that represents the electric field as a function of time, in a given position. For waves
with sinusoidal variation, this figure is generally an ellipse.
 3. What is the phenomenon of total reflection of an electromagnetic wave?
When a wave impinges on the separation surface between two different media, part of
its energy is transmitted to the second medium in the form of a transmitted wave
with similar characteristics to the incident, while another part of the incident energy
bounces off said surface and it propagates backwards, to the first medium, to
constitute a reflected wave. This phenomenon of oscillatory disturbance reflection is
common to both mechanical waves and light and other electromagnetic waves.

4. What is the phenomenon of total refraction of an electromagnetic

wave?
Refraction is the change in direction and speed that a wave undergoes when passing
from one medium to another with a different refractive index. It only occurs if the
wave impinges obliquely on the separation surface of the two media and if they have
different refractive indices. Refraction originates from the change in the propagation
speed of the indicated wave.

5. What is the purpose of Snell's Law in the study of the propagation of

waves?
Before explaining what Snell's law consists of, it is important to also know the
definition of light refraction. This term refers to the change in direction that a wave
can experience when it passes from one material medium to another. This change can
exclusively originate if the wave impinges obliquely on the separation area of the two
media and if they have different refractive indices.
Then, Snell's law consists of a formula that is particularly used to achieve the
calculation of the angle of refraction of light when it passes the separation surface
that exists between two media that have a different refractive index. The law then
explains that the product of the refractive index through the sine of the angle of
incidence is constant for any ray of light incident on the surface of two media.

Application exercises:
 2
mW /m ¿
1. An electromagnetic wave of f =¿ MHz and P+¿=1201 , incident from the air
(η1 =120 π Ω), perpendicular to an infinite wall with an intrinsic impedance
η2=CCC Ω . Calculate the reflected power P−¿
1 and the transmitted power P2 to the
¿ +¿¿

wall.

Conclusions
Conclusion 1:

Conclusion 2:

Bibliography

Virtual Encyclopedias
Bibliography 1:
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modos_de_propagaci%C3%B3n
Bibliography 2: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polarizaci%C3%B3n_electromagn
%C3%A9tica
Bibliography 3:
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refracci%C3%B3n
Bibliography 4:
http://enciclopedia.us.es/index.php/Ley_de_Snell