Task 1 - Electromagnetic waves in open media

JAIRO DAVID CANO MORA

Group 203058_23
1026566153

TUTOR
MANUEL JULIAN ESCOBAR

UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL ABIERTA Y A DISTANCIA UNAD

Escuela de Ciencias Básicas, Tecnología e Ingeniería
Teoría Electromagnética y Ondas
2020
 Exercises development

Activity
Questions: (write with your own words)

1. In the context of electromagnetic waves, what is an open

propagation medium?

Rta/ We can define that a propagation medium is open when the

wave is propagates, it does not find any obstacle that reflects the
waves; energy will move in one unique direction.

2. Within the propagation mediums, what is the meaning of the “Loss

Tangent”?

Rta/ Tangent of losses is the relationship that exists between the

conductivity and displacement current, this parameter depends on
the characteristics of the medium and the frequency of the signal.

3. How the propagation medium is classified according to the value of

the “Loss Tangent”?

Rta/

Good insulator (Dielectric of low losses)

They present conduction current and have losses due to the Joule
effect, this effect is almost negligible compared to the capacitive
effect.

0 < Tan(δ) <= 0,1 0° < δ <= 6°

Perfect Dielectrics:
They do not present conduction current (they do not have losses due
to the Joule effect)

Tan (δ) = 0 δ = 0°

 Perfect Drivers:
They do not have bias current (they do not have capacitive effects)

Tan (δ) → ∞ δ=∏∕2

Dissipative dielectrics:
These present both effects, neither is negligible compared to the
other.

0° < δ < ∏∕2

4. Define the propagation parameters for waves traveling through a

medium (they are different from the wave parameters).

Rta/
The wave propagation parameters through a medium are:
The relative dielectric permittivity of the medium: is the
capacity of a medium to store electrostatic energy. A dielectric is a
non-conductive material, that is, an insulator. Good ones Dielectrics
are air, rubber, glass and mica for example.
The conductivity: is the measure of the ability of a medium to
conduct current electrical. All pure metals are conductive,
considering some better conductivity than others. Conductivity is the
reciprocal of resistivity and is measured in Siemens (mhos).
The magnetic permeability: Is the measure of the superiority of a
material compared to vacuum, to serve as a path for lines of
magnetic force. Ferromagnetic materials like iron, steel, nickel and
cobalt they have high permeability’s. On the other hand substances
Diamagnetic compounds such as copper, brass and bismuth have
permeability’s comparable to that of free space.
 Frequency of the emission: This depends on the medium used,
thus being the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation frequencies
emitted by an atom or molecule in a transition from a higher to a
lower state.

Application exercise:
The following 5-step exercise describes the method to characterize
an electromagnetic wave when propagating in an open environment,
for which, each student must choose 1 propagation media of the 5
proposed in Table 1 and announce it within the Task 1 forum to
avoid repetition.

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
ε =ε r ε o ; ε o =8.8542 x 10−12 C 2 / N m2

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 =(CCC+10) MHz. Note that CCC
are the last 3 digits of your identification number.
σ σ
tan ( δ )= =
ω ε 2 πf ε r ε o

Example:
Identification number:12345678, then CCC=678

Then: f =( 678+10 ) MHz=688 MHz=688 x 106 Hz

Selected propagation medium: sea water

Copper conductivity: σ =4 S / m
Copper electrical permittivity: ε r=80
Identification number: 1026566153 then CCC=153

Then: f =( 153+10 ) MHz=163 MHz=163 x 106 Hz

Selected propagation medium: Sweet water

Sweet water conductivity: σ =1.00 x 10−3

Sweet water electrical permittivity: ε r=80

Attention, for the calculations:

1. Replace your values (with units) in the equation.
2. Perform the operation on a virtual scientific calculator. *
3. Paste the calculator image into the report.
4. Write the answer with your units.
If the image is not included, the exercise rating is 0 points.
* You can use https://www.geogebra.org/scientific

σ σ 4S/m
tan ( δ )= = =
ω ε 2 πf ε r ε o 2 π∗688 x 10 Hz∗80∗8.8542 x 10−12 C 2 /N m 2
6

Note that ω=2 πf and ε =ε r ε o

Calculation:

Figure 1: operation 1 on a virtual scientific calculator.

σ σ
tan ( δ )= = =1.3063
ω ε 2 πf ε r ε o

1. Replace your values (with units) in the equation.

 σ σ 1.00 x 10−3 S / m
tan ( δ )= = =
ω ε 2 πf ε r ε o 2 π∗163 x 106 Hz∗80∗8.8542 x 10−12 C 2 /N m 2

σ σ
tan ( δ )= = =0.0013784560934
ω ε 2 πf ε r ε o

Expresado en notacion cientifica es=1.37846 x 10−3

( δ )=0.0789796663718 °
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.

Media Tan(δ) δ [°]
1. Perfect dielectrics (Not dissipative) Tan(δ) = 0 δ = 0°
0 < Tan(δ) <= 0° < δ <=
2. Good insulators (Lost low dielectric)
0,1 6°
3. Dissipative (Dielectrics with 0,1 < Tan(δ) <= 6° < δ <=
dielectrics losses) 10 84°
84°< δ <
4. Good conductors (Good conductors) Tan(δ) > 10
90°
5. Perfect conductors (Perfect conductors) Tan(δ) >>> 10 δ = 90°
 Interpretation: According to the concept of Tangent of losses,
explain the meaning of the value obtained for tan ( δ ).
The loss tangent allows me to identify the quality of the electrical
insulation of a material, where if the conduction current is less than
the displacement current, the quality of the electrical insulation will
be much better.

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:

a. Propagation constant  (gamma).

b. Attenuation constant  (Alpha).
c. Phase constant  (Beta).

Not Dielectrics
Paramete Lost low Good
dissipativ with
r dielectric conductors
e losses
γ jω √ με jω √ με √ jωμ(σ + j ωε) √ jω σ μo
α 0 ση/2 ℜ¿) √ πf σ μ o
β ω √ με ω √ με ℑ() √ πf σ μ o
η √ μ/ε √ μ/ε √ jω μ/(σ+ j ωε) √ jω μo /σ

Table 3: Propagation parameters in open media.

 μ=μ r μ o ; μ r=1 ( non−magnetic media ) ; μ o=1.2566 x 10−6 T m/ A

Attention, for the calculations:

1. Replace your values (with units) in the equation.
2. Perform the operation on a virtual scientific calculator. *
3. Paste the calculator image into the report.
4. Write the answer with your units.
If the image is not included, the exercise rating is 0 points.
* You can use https://www.geogebra.org/scientific

γ = jω √ με

1. Replace your values (with units) in the equation.

a. Propagation constant  (gamma).

γ = j2 π √ μr μ0 ε r ε 0

γ = j(2 π ( 163 x 106 Hz ) ) √1(1,2566 x 10−6 Tm/ A)(80∗8,8542 x 10−12 C 2 / Nm2)

 γ =30.555237 j

b. Attenuation constant  (Alpha).

η=√ μ /ε
η=√ μ r μ 0 /ε r ε 0

η=√ 1( 1.2566 x 10−6 Tm / A)/¿ ¿ ¿

η=42.11907 Ω
α =ση /2

α =1 x 10−3 S/m∗42.11907 Ω /2

α =0.0210595397 Np/m
 c. Phase constant  (Beta).

β=ω √ με
β=¿

β=30.5552370 rad /m

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:

a. Propagation speed v p .
b. Wavelength λ .
c. The penetration depth of the δ pwave in the medium.
 Perform the operation on a virtual scientific calculator, paste the
image of the operation on the report, then write the final result
including the units.

V p=3.351828 x 107 m/ s
λ=0.2056336624337 m
δ p=474844186478m

Interpretation: According to the concepts explored, explain the

meaning of the value obtained for each of the propagation
characteristics V p , λ and δ p.
V p Is the speed with which the wave propagates through a medium.

λ Wavelength is the distance that a periodic disturbance travels

through a medium.
δ p The depth of penetration of the wave in a specific medium.

a. Propagation speed v p .

ω
vp=
β

1024159205.0702724457
vp =
30.5552370794579 rad /m

v p =3.351828 x 107 m/s

b. Wavelength λ .

2π
λ=
β
2π
λ=
30.5552370794579rad /m

λ=0.2056336624337 m

c. The penetration depth of the δ pwave in the medium.

1
δ p=
¿ a∨¿ ¿
1
δ p=
¿ a∨¿=47.4844186478m ¿
 Application example

Disinfection and Sterilization with Ultraviolet Light

Unlike chemical methods for water disinfection, UV light provides
rapid and efficient inactivation of microorganisms through a physical
process. When bacteria, viruses, and protozoa are exposed to the
germicidal wavelengths of UV light, they become unable to
reproduce and infect.
Ultraviolet (UV) light is a form of light that is invisible to the human
eye. It occupies the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum
between X-rays and visible light. The sun emits ultraviolet light;
however, the earth's ozone layer absorbs much of it.
A unique characteristic of UV light is that a specific range of its
wavelengths, between 200 and 300 nanometers (one billionth of a
meter), is classified as germicidal, that is, it can inactivate
microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and protozoa. This ability
has allowed the widespread adoption of UV light as an
environmentally friendly, chemical-free and highly effective way to
disinfect and protect water from harmful microorganisms.
Through a process called UV oxidation, microorganisms are
inactivated by UV light as a result of damage to nucleic acids.
Cellular DNA and RNA absorb the high energy associated with short
wavelength UV energy, mainly at 254 nm. This absorption of UV
energy forms new bonds between adjacent nucleotides creating
double bonds or dimers.
The dimerization of adjacent molecules, especially thymine,
constitutes the most frequent photochemical damage. The formation
of numerous thymine dimers in the DNA of bacteria and viruses
prevents replication and the ability to infect.
An important body of scientific research has demonstrated the ability
of UV light to inactivate an extensive list of pathogenic bacteria,
viruses and protozoa.

Video link

https://youtu.be/bMVi8shr7NY
 References

 Quesada-Pérez, M., & Maroto-Centeno, J. (2014). From

Maxwell's Equations to Free and Guided Electromagnetic
Waves: An Introduction for First-year Undergraduates. New
York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc. (pp. 46-60). Recovered
from https://bibliotecavirtual.unad.edu.co/login?
url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=746851&lang=es&site=eds-
live&scope=site&ebv=EB&ppid=pp_49

 https://www.cartagena99.com/recursos/fisica/apuntes/ondas_
electromagneticas.pdf

 Gutiérrez, W. (2017). Loss Tangent [Video]. Recovered from

http://hdl.handle.net/10596/13139
 Leyton L., & Quintero, D. (2019). Characterization of
electromagnetic waves in open media. [Video]. Recovered
from https://repository.unad.edu.co/handle/10596/30439