Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia

Vicerrectoría Académica y de Investigación

Course: Teoría Electromagnética y Ondas - Code: 203058
Activity Guide and Evaluation Rubric - Task 1 - Electromagnetic waves in
open media

1. Activity Description

Type of activity: Collaborative

Evaluation moment: Intermediate Unit 1
Highest score of the activity: 110 points
The activity starts on: The activity ends on:
Monday, September 6, 2021 Saturday, October 2, 2021
With this activity, you are expected to achieve the following learning outcomes:
• Understand the behavior of electromagnetic waves when they propagate by different
means through the theoretical study of concepts.
• Calculate the parameters that characterize the behavior of electromagnetic waves
through the development of application exercises.
• Interpret the numerical results obtained in the characterization of electromagnetic
waves by analyzing the results.
The activity consists of: develop the following 8 steps.
Step 1: Explore the academic resource described in the next section of this document
“Activity”.
Step 2: Download the “Annex 1 - Delivery format – Task 1” found in the Learning
Environment in the “Activity Guide and Evaluation Rubric – Unit 1 - Task 1 -
Electromagnetic waves in open media” folder.
Step 3: Individually, based on the exploration performed, answer the questions proposed
in the next section “Activity”.
Step 4: Select 1 of the proposed propagation medium in the application exercise of the
“Activity” section and post it in the “Task 1” forum of the Learning Environment.
Step 5: Individually, based on the exploration performed, solve the points of the
application exercise, using the chosen propagation medium and post your progress in the
Task 1” forum.
Step 6: Explain in your own words a real example of the application of electromagnetic
waves in any of the following media: air, water, earth, human tissue or in plants
(vegetables).
Step 7: Create a video of maximum 5 minutes, where you conceptually explain the
procedure and the meaning of the results obtained in the development of the chosen
exercise.

In the video, use the camera, always show your face and expose the development of the
work using the delivery format. At the beginning of the video, clearly show your
identification document for 4 seconds by hiding the number. Use a video server (YouTube,

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Loom, etc.) in non-public mode and create a link that you must attach in the delivery
format. If the student does not use the camera or does not identify himself
correctly, the video will not be accepted.

Step 8: In the 3 days, before the closing of the activity, the group leader must collect the
individual PDF files of the participants and compress them into a single file, which must be
delivered in the Evaluation Environment.
Activity
For the development of this activity, explore in the Knowledge Environment, in “Unit 1”,
the bibliographical reference of Chen, W. (2005), on pages 513-519, supplement with the
aids generated by the tutor within the forum, to solve the following consultation and
application exercises:

Questions: (write with your own words)

1. In the context of electromagnetic waves, what is an open propagation medium?
2. Within the propagation mediums, what is the meaning of the “Loss Tangent”?
3. How the propagation medium is classified according to the value of the “Loss
Tangent”?
4. Define the propagation parameters for waves traveling through a medium (they are
different from the wave parameters).

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 proposed in Table 1 and announce it within the “Task 1” forum
to avoid repetition.

Table 1: Conductivity 𝛔 and electrical permittivity 𝛆𝐫 of some media.

Media 𝛔 [𝐒⁄𝐦] 𝛆𝐫 [ ]
1. Copper 5.80𝑥107 1
2. Sea water 4 80
3. Air 5.5𝑥10−15 1.0005
4. Vegetable soil 1.00𝑥10−2 14
5. Dry soil 1.00𝑥10−4 3
6. Sweet water 1.00𝑥10−3 80
7. Vacuum 0 1
−12 2 2
𝜀 = εr ε𝑜 ; εo = 8.8542x10 𝐶 /N𝑚

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

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°
2. Good insulators (Lost low dielectric) 0 < Tan(δ) <= 0,1 0° < δ <= 6°
3. Dissipative dielectrics (Dielectrics with losses) 0,1 < Tan(δ) <= 10 6° < δ <= 84°
4. Good conductors (Good conductors) Tan(δ) > 10 84°< δ < 90°
5. Perfect conductors (Perfect conductors) Tan(δ) >>> 10 δ = 90°

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).

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 Table 3: Propagation parameters in open media.
Not Lost low Dielectrics with Good
Parameter
dissipative dielectric losses conductors
 𝑗𝜔√𝜇𝜀 𝑗𝜔√𝜇𝜀 √𝑗𝜔𝜇(𝜎 + 𝑗𝜔𝜀) √𝑗𝜔𝜎𝜇𝑜
 0 𝜎𝜂 ⁄2 𝑅𝑒() √𝜋𝑓𝜎𝜇𝑜
 𝜔√𝜇𝜀 𝜔√𝜇𝜀 𝐼𝑚() √𝜋𝑓𝜎𝜇𝑜
 √𝜇⁄𝜀 √𝜇⁄𝜀 √𝑗𝜔𝜇⁄(𝜎 + 𝑗𝜔𝜀) √𝑗𝜔𝜇𝑜 ⁄𝜎
𝜇 = 𝜇𝑟 𝜇𝑜 ; 𝜇𝑟 = 1 (𝑛𝑜𝑛 − 𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑚𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑎) ; 𝜇𝑜 = 1.2566x10−6 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

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 𝒗𝒑 .
b. Wavelength 𝝀.
c. The penetration depth of the 𝜹𝒑 wave in the medium.

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

Interpretation: According to the concepts explored, explain in your own words the
meaning and the result obtained for: 𝑇𝑎𝑛(𝛿), 𝑉𝑝 , 𝜆 and 𝛿𝑝 .

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For the development of the activity consider that:

In the Initial Information Environment, you must:

1. Permanently review the "Course News" forum, where the course director shares
important information.
In the Learning Environment, you must:
1. Enter the folder "Activity Guide and Assessment Rubric - Unit 1 - Task 1 -
Electromagnetic waves in open media" and download the activity guide and the delivery
format for Task 1.
2. Explore the activity guide and follow the instructions given there step by step.
3. Make individual contributions in the Task 1 forum with the progress of the work.
4. three days before the end of the activity, submit in the Task 1 forum your final
individual work in PDF to be consolidated by the group leader.
In the Evaluation Environment, you must:
1. In the last 3 days, before the end of the activity, the group leader must send the final
group work in a compressed file, in the space "Unit 1 - Task 1 - Electromagnetic waves in
open media - Evaluation rubric and activity submission”.
Evidences of individual work:
The individual evidence to be submitted is: the student must submit a PDF document with
the name 'Task 1 - name surname', with the following contents:
• Cover page.
• Answer to questions.
• Exercises development.
• Interpretation of variables and results.
• Application example.
• Video link.
• At least 1 reference (use APA format).
Evidences of collaborative work:
The collaborative evidence to be submitted is: a compressed ZIP or RAR file with the
name ‘Task 1' that contains the PDF documents of the participating students.

Figure 1: Group consolidation example.

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 2. General Guidelines for the Development of Evidences to Submit

Please keep in mind that all individual or collaborative written products must comply with
the spelling rules and presentation conditions defined in this activity guide.
Regarding the use of references, consider that the product of this activity must comply
with APA style.
In any case, make sure you comply with the rules and avoid academic plagiarism. You can
review your written products using the Turnitin tool found in the virtual campus.

Under the Academic Code of Conduct, the actions that infringe the academic order, among
others, are the following: paragraph e) Plagiarism is to present as your own work all or
part of a written report, task or document of invention carried out by another person. It
also implies the use of citations or lack of references, or it includes citations where there is
no match between these and the reference and paragraph f) To reproduce, or copy for
profit, educational resources or results of research products, which have rights reserved
for the University. (Acuerdo 029 - 13 de diciembre de 2013, artículo 99)

The academic penalties students will face are:

a) In case of academic fraud demonstrated in the academic work or evaluation, the score
obtained will be zero (0.0) without any disciplinary measures being derived.
b) In case of proven plagiarism in academic work of any nature, the score obtained will be
zero (0.0), without any disciplinary measures being derived.

3. Evaluation Rubric Template

Type of activity: Collaborative

Evaluation moment: Intermediate Unit 1
The highest score in this activity is 110 points
First evaluation High level: The student correctly investigates the concepts of
criterion: electromagnetic waves in open media.
Understanding If your work is at this level, you can get between 11 points and 15
concepts about wave points
propagation in open Average level: The student investigates incorrectly or partially the
media. concepts of electromagnetic waves in open media.
If your work is at this level, you can get between 5 points and 10
This criterion points
represents 15 Low level: The student investigates simply or does not investigate
points of the total the concepts of electromagnetic waves in open media.
of 110 points of If your work is at this level, you can get between 0 points and 4
the activity. points

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Second evaluation
High level: The student correctly calculates the parameters of an
criterion:
electromagnetic wave in open media.
Calculation of
If your work is at this level, you can get between 21 points and 30
propagation points
parameters in open Average level: The student correctly calculates some parameters of
media. an electromagnetic wave in open media.
If your work is at this level, you can get between 10 points and 20
points
This criterion
Low level: The student incorrectly calculates parameters of an
represents 30
electromagnetic wave in open media.
points of the total
If your work is at this level, you can get between 0 points and 9
of 110 points of
points
the activity.
Third evaluation High level: The student correctly interprets the meaning of the
criterion: calculated parameters.
Interpretation of If your work is at this level, you can get between 11 points and 15
numerical results. points
Average level: The student interprets some meaning of the
calculated parameters.
This criterion If your work is at this level, you can get between 5 points and 10
represents 15 points
points of the total Low level: The student incorrectly interprets the meaning of the
of 110 points of calculated parameters.
the activity. If your work is at this level, you can get between 0 points and 4
points
Fourth evaluation High level: The student identifies himself and expose the solution
criterion: procedure of the exercise through a video.
Expose the solution If your work is at this level, you can get between 19 points and 25
procedure. points
Average level: The student identifies himself and partially expose
This criterion the solution procedure of the exercise through a video
represents 25 If your work is at this level, you can get between 9 points and 18
points of the total points
of 110 points of Low level: The student does not identify himself or does not
the activity. satisfactorily expose the solution procedure of the exercise through a
video.
If your work is at this level, you can get between 0 points and 8
points
Fifth evaluation
High level: The student correctly presents an example of an
criterion:
application in context on wave propagation in open media.
Apply concepts in
If your work is at this level, you can get between 11 points and 15
context.
points

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This criterion Average level: The student presents an approximate example of an
represents 15 application in context on wave propagation in open media.
points of the total If your work is at this level, you can get between 5 points and 10
of 110 points of points
the activity. Low level: The student incorrectly presents or does not present an
example of an application in context on wave propagation in open
media.
If your work is at this level, you can get between 0 points and 4
points
Sixth evaluation High level: The student meets all the delivery parameters and the
criterion: document is written in English.
Team work. If your work is at this level, you can get between 8 points and 10
points
This criterion Average level: The student meets some delivery parameters or the
represents 10 document is not written in English.
points of the total If your work is at this level, you can get between 4 points and 7 points
of 110 points of Low level: The student does not meet the delivery parameters and
the activity. the document is not written in English.
If your work is at this level, you can get between 0 points and 3 points