Central Institute of Technology

Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering

Electromagnetic waves
EC-501
Model Questions Bank

Group-A
(Objective Type Question)

1. Laplacian operator of a scalar function V is

(a) V (b)  2V (c)   V (d)   V

2. Poisson’s Equation states that .D   , here
(a) ρ is displacement density
(b) ρ is current density
(c) ρ is surface charge density
(d) ρ is volumetric charge density.
3. Energy density in an electrostatic field E is
(a) ½(εE2) (b) (εE2) (c) 2(εE2) (d) ½ (εE).
4. The unit of electric field intensity is
(a) volt (b) volt/m (c) coulomb/m (d) weber/m
5. A circularly polarized wave results when
(a) magnitudes of two waves are same
(b) phases of two waves are same
(c) magnitudes of two waves are same but phase difference is 90 degree.
(d) magnitudes of two waves are same but phase difference is 0 degree.
6. The value of intrinsic impedance of free space is
(a) 50 ohm (b) 72 ohm (c) 120 ohm (d) 377 ohm
7. A uniform plane wave components of
(a) E and H is zero in direction perpendicular to direction of propagation
(b) E and H exists only in direction perpendicular to direction of
propagation
(c) the direction of propagation E exists while H is Zero
(d) both E and H exists in all directions.
8. A transmission line is called a distortion-less line, when
(a) R/L=G/C (b) R/G=C/L (c) RG=L/C (d) R/G=LC.
9. The SWR on a lossless transmission line of characteristic impedance 100ohm is
3. The line is terminated by
(a) a resistance of 300 ohm (b) a reactance of j300 ohm
(c) a resistance of 100/3 ohm (d) a reactance of j100/3 ohm.
10. Terrestrial TV transmission uses
(a) Ground wave propagation (b) Space wave propagation
(c) Tropospheric scatter wave propagation (d) Sky wave propagation
11. A quarter-wave monopole antenna operating in air at a frequency of 1 MHz must
have an overall length (l) of
(a) 300 m (b) 150 m (c) 75 m (d) 37.5 m.
12. The directivity of a half-wave dipole is
(a) 1.51 (b) 1.64 (c) 2.03 (d) 2.54.
13. Cassagrain feed is used with a parabolic reflector antenna to
(a) increase the gain
(b) increase the bandwidth

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 Central Institute of Technology
Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering
(c) reduce the reflector size
(d) allow the feed to be placed at a convenient point.
14. Which of the following is continuity equation?

(a)   div J (b) Curl H=i
t

(c) div D= (d) Div i=0
t
15. The electric field line and equipotential lines
(a) are parallel to each other
(b) are one and the same
(c) cut each other orthogonally
(d) can be inclined to each other at any angle.
16. UHF radio waves propagate as
(a) Ground wave (b) Surface wave
(c) sky wave (d) space wave
17. Antenna is a
(a) Transducer (b) Amplifier
(c) non-radiating element (d) none of these.
18. The value of  dI along a circle of radius 2 units is
(a) zero (b) 2π (c) 8π (d) 4π
19. The unit of magnetic field strength (H) is
(a) amp/m2 (b) C/m2 (c) V/m (d) Tesla
20. The director of a Yagi Uda array behaves like
(a) capacitive element (b) inductive element
(c) resistive element (d) none of these
21. A transmission line is terminated by a pure capacitor. The VSWR in the line is
(a) 1 (b) infinity (c) 0 (d) depends on the value of capacitor
22. A circularly polarized wave results, when
(a) magnitudes of two waves are same
(b) phases of two waves are same
(c) magnitudes of two waves are same and phase difference is zero
(d) magnitudes of two waves are same and phase difference is 90o.
23. The magnetic flux B and vector potential A are related as
(a) B    A (b) B  . A (c) A    B (d)
A  .B
24. Which of the following is not a Maxwell’s equations?
B D
(a) D=εE (b) .D   (c)   E   (d)   H  J 
t t
25. The intrinsic impedance of free space is given by
(a) 333Ω (b) 377Ω (c) 233.5Ω (d) None of these.
26. Which of the following is Zero?
(a) Grad div A (b) div gradient V
(c) div curl A (d) curl curl A
D
27. Maxwell’s equation Curl H  J  represents
t
(a) Magnetic vector potential A (b) Gauss’s law in magnetism
(c) Generalized Ampere’s circuital law (d) Biot-Savart law
28. The distance required to effect the phase change of 2π is
(a) β (b) λ (c) βλ (d) 2λ

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 Central Institute of Technology
Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering
29. The intrinsic wave impedance of a medium with permeability μ and permittivity
ε is
  1
(a) (b) (c) (d) 
  
30. Which of the following layers persists at night?
(a) D Layer (b) E layer (c) F1 layer (d) F2 layer
31. For a good plane conductor, skin depth varies
(a) directly as square root of frequency
(b) inversely as square root of frequency
(c) directly as a function of frequency
(d) inversely with frequency.
32. Poynting vector for EM wave has unit
(a) watt/m (b) W/m2 (c) W2/m (d) (W/m)2
33. The direction of propagation of electromagnetic wave is obtained from
(a) E×H (b) E-H (c) E (b) E/H
34. Ohm’s law is obeyed by
(a) conduction current (b) convection current
(c) conduction and convection current (d) none of these
35. Hertz dipole is a dipole with length
(a) l≤λ/10 (b) λ/4 (c) 3λ/4 (d)λ/6
36. If the frequency of the incident wave increases by a factor of 4, the depth to
which a wave penetrates a conducting material
(a) increases by a factor of 2 (b) increases by a factor of 4
(c) decrease by a factor of 2 (d) decreases by a factor of 4
37. A quarter-wave monopole antenna operating in air at a frequency of 1MHz must
have an overall length (l) of
(a) l>>λ (b) 150m (c) 75m (d) l<<λ
38. The direction of propagation of EM wave is obtained from
(a) E×H (b) E.H (c) E (d) H.
39. One of the following is not a source of electromagnetic fields
(a) a DC current source (b) a permanent magnet
(c) an accelerated charge (d) an electric field linearly changing with time.
40. For a lossy transmission line, the characteristics impedance does not depend on
(a) the operating frequency of the line
(b) the length of the line
(c) the conductivity of the conductors
(d) the conductivity of the dielectric separating the conductors.
41. The points P(2,5,-1) and Q(-1,-4,-1)
(a) |RPQ|=√86 (b) |RPQ|=√94 (c) |RPQ|=√14 (d) |RPQ|=√90
42. The electric field intensity due to sheet charge density is
S S S S
(a) E= aρ (b) E= aN (c) E= az (d) E= a
2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 θ
43. If the volume charge density is ρv=40xyz C/m3. The total charge within the
region defined by 0≤x,y,z≤1, is
(a) 10 C (b) 20 C (c) 30 C (d) 40 C
44. A point charge Q lies at the origin. Following is true.
(a) .D  0 everywhere. (b) .D  0 everywhere except at the
origin

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 Central Institute of Technology
Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering
(c) D  0 everywhere (d) D  0 everywhere except at the
origin
45. The divergence of G= xax+ yay+ zaz at point P(2,2,2) is
(a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 4
46. The magnetic field intensity at any distance ρ from an infinity long current
carrying conductor is
(a) H=(I/2πρ)aφ (b) H=(I2/2πρ)aφ
(c) H=(I/πρ)aφ (d) H=(I/ρ)aφ
47. The Stokes’ theorem is
(a)  L H .dL   S (  H ).dS (b)  L H .dL   S (.H ).dS
(c)  H .dL   S (  H ).dS (d)  H .dL   S (.H ).dS
48. A lossless dielectric slab has εR=9. Its intrinsic impedance is
(a) 360πΩ (b) 120πΩ (c) 40πΩ (d) 30πΩ
49. For a lossless transmission line
(a) R=0, G=∞ and α=0 (b) R=0, G=∞ and α≠0
(c) R=G=0 and α≠0 (d) R=G=0 and α=0
50. The ratio of capacitance and conductance of high frequency transmission line is
(a) ε/σω (b) ωε/σ (c) ε/σ (d) σ/ε

51. Long distance short wave radio broadcasting uses

(a) ground wave (b) ionospheric wave (c) direct wave (d) Sky wave
52. The critical frewuency of the ionospheric layer is the
(a) least frequency reflected by the layer
(b) highest frequency reflected by the layer
(c) highest frequency reflected by the for normal incidence
(d) frequency which is completely absorbed by the layer
53. The radiation field of an antenna at a distance r varies
(a) 1/r (b) 1/r2 (c) 1/r3 (d) 1/r4
54. Which one of the following antenna structures is best for generating circular
polarized radiation?
(a) Helical antenna (b) Log-periodic antenna (c) Rhombic antenna
(d) Dipole antenna
55. If the time dependence of voltage is given as e-jwt, then V0e-γz will represent
(a) forward traveling wave (b) backward traveling wave
(c) standing wave (d) does not represent a wave.
56. A line of length l has characteristics impedance Z0. The line is cut into half. The
value of characteristic impedance becomes
(a) Z0/2 (b) Z0/4 (c) 2Z0 (d) Z0
57. A line is of a length l. the electrical length of the line is given as
(a) l/λ (b) l (c) 2πl/λ (d) 2πλ/l
58. A shorted line has Zin=+jZ0. the length of the line is
(a) λ (b) λ/2 (c) λ/4 (d) λ/8
59. For an open circuited line which is not true
(a) Zin= - jZ0cotβl (b) Γl= -1 (c) Γl= +1 (d) S=∞

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 Central Institute of Technology
Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering

Group-B
(Short Answer Type Question)

Electromagnetic theory:

1. What does magnetic vector potential mean? Write down the Maxwell’s
equations for time varying electromagnetic fields, when the medium is lossless,
linear, isotropic, homogeneous, and source free. (3+2)
2. State and prove Divergence theorem. (5)
3. Write down the physical significance of divergence and curl. (5)
4. Prove that the electric field due to an infinite sheet of charge along the normal
direction does not depend on the distance. (5)
5. (a) State Ampere’s circuital law and write its expression in both integral and
differential forms. (2)
(b) Calculate the magnetic flux density at the center of a current-carrying loop,
when the radius of the loop is 2 cm, loop current is 1 mA and the loop is placed
in air. (3)
6. (a) Write the continuity equation and explain the significance of each term. (2)
(b) State Gauss’s divergence theorem. Show with an example, the use of this
theorem in electrostatics. (3)
7. Find out the expression of energy density in electrostatic fields. (5)
8. Establish the relation,   H  J  D / t , where symbols have their usual
meanings. (5)
9. Explain the concept of skin depth and find out an expression for that. (5)
 
10. (a) Explain the significance of the term E  H in uniform plane wave
propagation. (2)
(b) If the skin depth is 60 μm at 5.0 MHz in a certain medium, calculate the
value if the frequency is changed to 20.0 MHz. (3)
11. Write down Integral form of Maxwell’s equations for static electromagnetic
field. Write down the four conditions at boundary surface between different
media (two conductors). (3+2)
12. Discuss phase velocity and group velocity and obtain the relation between them.
(5)
13. Explain the characteristics of Smith chart. (5)
14. (a) What is Smith chart? What are the various applications of Smith chart in
transmission line?
(b) Define characteristics impedance of lossless transmission line. (3+2)
15. Explain the following terms: 2×2½
(a) Reflection co-efficient (b) VSWR
16. (a) Explain what do you understand by the term ‘line parameters’ in the context
of a transmission line. (2)
(b) Draw the equivalent circuit of a transmission line and hence write the
transmission line equations for an elemental section of a transmission line. (3)
17. Define the term (i) VSWR and (ii) Reflection co-efficient for transmission line.
Explain the relationship between them. (5)

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 Central Institute of Technology
Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering

(Long Answer Type Question)

Electromagnetic theory:

1.(a) Write down Maxwell’s equations for time varying electromagnetic fields:
when the media is homogeneous, source-free, loss-less, isotropic and linear.
(b) Obtain an expression of wave equation of a conducting medium.
(c) What do you mean by perfect conductor?
(d) Explain Maxwell’s fourth equation of modified Ampere’s circuital law. What is
displacement current? (4+4+2+5)
2.(a) Prove that the electric field at a point (r>a) due to a uniformly charged sphere of
radius a is the same as the whole charge is located at the center of the sphere.
(b) A circular disk of radius a uniformly charged with ρs C/m2. If the disk lies
on the z=0 plane with its along the z-axis,
(i) Show that at point (0,0,h)
 s  h 
E 1  2 2 1  z
a
 
2 0  h  a  2

(ii) From this, derive the E field due to an infinite sheet of charge on the z=0
plane.
(iii) If a<<h, show that E is similar to the field due to a point charge.
(8+7)
3. (a) State and explain Faraday’s Law.
(b) Derive the induced emf when a stationary loop is in the time varying B
fields.
(c) Determine the Magnetic field intensity at a point P due to a current carrying
filamentary conductor AB carrying current I along Z axis its upper and lower

ends subtending angles α1 and α2 respectively. (4+5+6)

4. (a) Derive the wave equation for free space. (8)

(b) What is uniform plane wave? Derive the relationship between E and H in
the uniform plane wave.
(2+5)
8. (a) Derive the expressions of the electric and magnetic fields of an electromagnetic
wave propagating in a lossy dielectric medium.
(b) What do you understand by the term loss tangent and what is its physical
significance.
(c) Obtain the Poynting theorem for the conservation of energy in an electromagnetic
field and discuss the physical significance of each term in resulting equation.
(6+3+6)

5. (a) what is meant by the uniform plane wave? Derive the wave equation in the
terms of electric and magnetic fields. (2+6)
(b) Derive Poynting theorem and explain clearly every term. Calculate power
flow for a plane wave. (4+1+2)
6. (a) Write the Maxwell’s equation in differential from. (4)

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 Central Institute of Technology
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(b) Hence derive the wave equation in terms of electric Field intensity. (5)
(c) Obtain the solution of the wave equation, assuming the propagation in z-
direction and electric field in x-direction. (4)
(d) Find the corresponding magnetic field intensity. (2)

7. (a) Establish the boundary conditions for electric and magnetic field intensities
and the interference between two dielectric media. (6)
(b) Explain how these conditions will be modified, if one of the media is a
perfect conductor. (5)
(c) If x<0 defines region 1 and x>0 defines region 2, then find the electric field
intensity

in region 2(εr2=5), if electric field intensity in region 1(εr1=1) is
E1  ( 4uˆ x  1.5uˆ y  2uˆ z ) V/m.
(4)

8. a) Obtain Poynting theorem for conservation of energy in an electromagnetic

field and discuss the physical significance of each term in resulting equation.
(b) Explain boundary conditions for an interface separating dielectric εr1 and
dielectric εr2. (10+5)
9.(a) Define the following terms and explain their physical significance.
i. Attenuation constant
ii. Characteristic impedance
iii. Phase constant
iv. Phase velocity as applied to a transmission line.
(b) Derive the wave equation in a conducting medium. (8+7)
10. (a) Derive an expression for the input impedance Z in of a lossless transmission
line, in terms of relevant parameters, when the line is terminated into
impedance ZL.
(b) Show that for a lossless transmission line the input impedance of a line
repeat over every λ/2 distance.
(c) (c) At a frequency of 80 MHz, a lossless transmission line has a
characteristic impedance of 300Ω and a wavelength of 2.5m. Find the value of
L and C. (5+5+5)

11. (a) Explain the significance and utility of λ/8, λ/4, and λ/2 Line.
(b) A low transmission line of 100Ω characteristic impedance is connected to a
load of 400. Calculate the reflection coefficient and standing wave ratio. Derive
the relationships used. (7+8)
12. (a) Define characteristics impedance of a transmission line. Explain the
formation of standing wave pattern on transmission line. (2+3)
(b) Deduce relation between reflection co-efficient and VSWR. (5)
(c) A transmission line of characteristics impedance 50Ω is terminated by
resistor of 100Ω. What will be the VSWR in the line? Calculate impedances at
the voltage minimum and maximum positions. (5)

13. (a) A lossless line has a characteristic impedance of 50 ohm and is terminated in
a load resistance of 75 ohm. If the length of line is λ/2, determine (i) input
impedance, (ii) reflection coefficient and (iii) VSWR. What will be the value of
reflection coefficient, if the load impedance is 50 ohm? (5)
(b) Explain what is meant stand by the term ‘quarter-wave transformer’. Write
one application of such a transformer. (5)

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 Central Institute of Technology
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(c) Show that a short-circuited lossless transmission line can offer reactance of
any value by simply changing the length of the line. (5)

Group-D
(Short Notes)

i) Quarter wavelength transmission line

ii) Boundary condition of magnetic field
iii) Skin depth
iv) Ground wave propagation
v) Propagation constant and in-frequency dependence
vi) Boundary conditions for electric and magnetic fields
vii) Maxwell’s equation
viii) Ampere’s circuital Law
ix) Smith Chart
x) Poynting Theorem
xi) Conduction and Convection current
Numerical

1. Given a vector A=5ax+ay+3az. Find the magnitude of the vector and the unit vector
originating from the origin. Convert A in cylindrical coordinate and spherical
coordinate system. [ans: √35, 5ax+ay+3az/√35, A(r=6,θ=600,φ=11.310)]

2. If A=2ax+6ay-3az: B = -3ax-4ay-5az find: (a) a unit vector in the direction of A-B: (b)
the magnitude of A+B. [ans: 0.44ax+0.88ay+0.176az, √69]

3. A point charge. Q1=10µC, is located at P1(1,2,3) in free space, while Q 2= -5µC is at

P2(1,2,10). (a) Find the vector force exerted on Q 2 by Q1. (b) Find the coordinates of P 3
at which a point charge Q3 experiences no force. [ans: -9.18az mN, P3=(1,2,26.9)]

4. A line charge ρL=50 nC/m, is located along the line x=2, y=5, in free space. (a) Find E
at P(1,3,-4). (b) If the surface x=4 contains a uniform surface charge density
ρS=18nC/m2, at what point in the z=0 plane is Etotal=0?
[ans: -179.9ax-359.85ay V/m x=2.88m, y=5m]
5. If D=3y2ax+3x2yay+5az C/m2, find the charge enclosed within the region 0<x,y,z<2 by
evaluating one or more surface integrals. [ans: 32C]

6. If D=4x3ax-2zay-2yaz C/m2, find : (a) ; (b) ρv at P(x,y,z); (c) the total charge lying
within the region -1,x,y,z<1; (d) the total charge lying within that region without
finding ρv first. [ans: 12x2 C/m3, 12x2 C/m3, 32 C]

7. Given points A(1,2,4), B(-2,-1,3) and C(3,1,-2), let a differential current element with
I=6A and |dL|=10-4m be located at A. the direction of dL is from A to B. Find dH at C.

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 Central Institute of Technology
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[ans: 0.7097ax-0.8349ay+0.3757az A/m]
8. A 300 MHz wave propagating through fresh water. Assuming a lossless medium
µr=1,εr=78(at 300 MHz) find the β,v,λ,η. If E0=0.1V/m, also find Ex and Hy.
[ans: 55.5rad/m, 0.339×108 m/s, 0.113m, 42.7Ω, 0.1 cos(6π×10 8t-55.5z) V/m, 2.34×10-
3
cos(6π×108t-55.5z) A/m]

9. Find the skin depth for copper at 10000 MHz and 60 Hz. The conductivity of copper is
5.8×107 S/m. [ans: 6.61× 10-4 mm, 8.53mm]

10. A transmission line operating at 500Mrad/s has L=0.5µH/m, C=32pF/m,

G=100μmho/m and R=25Ω/m. (a) Calculate values for γ, α, β, v, λand Z0. (b) What
distance down the line can a voltage wave travel before it is reduced to 10 percent of its
initial amplitude? (c) What distance must it travel to undergo a 90 o phase shift?
[ans: (0.1061+j2.002) Ω/m, 0.1061 Np/m, j2.002 rad/m, 2.5×10 8 m/s, 3.14m, 125.3
  2.68 0 Ω, 21.7 m, 0.7842 m]

11. The velocity of propagation on a certain lossless transmission line is v=250m/µs. if

C=30pF/m, find (a) L; (b) Z0; (c) β at 100Mhz. (d) The line terminated by 50 Ω
resistor. Find Γ. [ans : 5.33×10-7 H/m, 133.3Ω, 2.51 rad/m, 50Ω, -0.454]

12. At a frequency of 80 MHz, a lossless transmission line has a characteristic impedance

of 300Ω and a wavelength of 2.5m. (a) Find L; (b) Find C. (c) If the line is terminated
with the parallel combination of 200Ω and 5 pF, determine Γ and SWR.
[ans: 1.5μH/m, 16.67 pF/m, -0.346  39.70 , 2.06]

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