ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

- DISPLACEMENT CURRENT
Displacement current comes into existence in the region, whenever the electric field or electric flux is
changing with respect to time.
The displacement current is defined by the relation

E
D 0
d
I
dt
o
=e
where
0
e = absolute permittivity of space and
E
d / dt o = rate of change of electric flux.
When there is a steady electric flux linked with a region, the displacement current is zero.
- AMPERE-MAXWELL LAW
The line integral of magnetic field B

over a closed path in vacuum is equal to

0
times the sum of the
conduction current (I) and displacement current (I
D
).

0 E
0 D 0
d
B.dl = (I+I ) = I+
dt
e | |
|
\ .

The sum of conduction current and displacement current provides continuity along any closed path
although individually they may not be continuous.
- MAXWELLS EQUATIONS
(a)
0
q
E.ds =
e

s
(Gausss theorem in electrostatics)
The electric lines of force start from positive charge and end on negative charge i.e. the electric lines
of force do not form a continuous closed path.
(b)
s
B.ds 0 =

(Gausss law in magnetism)

The number of magnetic lines of force leaving a closed surface is equal to number of magnetic lines
of force entering that same closed surface.
(c)
s
d
E.dl B.ds
dt
=




(Faradays law of electromagnetic induction)
Line integral of electric field is equal to the magnitude of rate of change of magnetic flux.
(d)
s
d
E.dl B.ds
dt
=




(Ampere-Maxwell law)
It states that the magnetic field can be produced by a conduction current as well as by a
displacement current.
IMPORTANT FEATURES OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
- E.M. waves are transverse waves in which there are sinusoidal variations of electric and magnetic
fields. These two fields exist at right angles to each other as well as at right angles to the direction of
wave propagation.
- Both these fields vary with time and space and have the same frequency of variation. These waves
can travel through vacuum also.
- Velocity of electromagnetic wave in free space (vacuum) is constant and given by
WikiMama.in
1
W
i
k
i
M
a
m
a
.
i
n

8 1
7 12
0 0
1 1
c 3 10 ms
4 10 8.854 10

= = =
u e
t

Direction of wave propagation is given by the direction of E B

.
The amplitudes of electric and magnetic fields in free space, in electromagnetic waves are related by
E
0
= cB
0

NOTE : The velocity of electromagnetic wave does not depend on amplitude of field metros.
- ENERGY DENSITY OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE
Consider a plane electromagnetic moving through a medium. The electric and magnetic field in such
a plane electromagnetic wave can be given by
E B cos (kx - t) = e

and
0
B B cos(kx t) = e

.
The average energy density of electric field is
( )
= e = e = e
2
2 2
E 0 0 0 0 0
1 1 1
U E E / 2 E
2 2 4
,
The average energy density of magnetic field is,
( )
= = =
u u u
2
2 2
0
0
B
0 0 0
B / 2
B B
U
2 2 4

The average energy density due to either field are equal, i.e. U
E
= u
B

Total average energy density = + = = = e =
u
2
2 0
E B E B 0 0
0
B 1 1
U U 2U 2U E
2 2

- INTENSITY OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE
The intensity of E.M. wave is the energy of electromagnetic wave crossing per unit time per unit area
perpendicular to the direction of propagation of wave. Expression for the intensity of electromagnetic
wave is as given below :

av
av 2
P
I u c
4 r
= =
t


2 2
0 0 0
0
1 1
E c B c
2 2
= e =
u

- MOMENTUM OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE
The electromagnetic wave has linear momentum associated with it. The linear momentum p carried
by the portion of wave having energy U is given by

U
p
c
=
If the electromagnetic wave incident on a material surface is completely absorbed, it will deliver
energy U and momentum p = U/c to the surface. Due to this momentum change, there is force
exerted on the surface.
- RADIANT FLUX OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE
According to Maxwell, the accelerated charged particles produce electromagnetic waves. The total
radiant flux emitted at any instant is given by
( )
2 2 3
0
P q a / 6 c . = te Here q is the charge carried by the
particle and a is its instantaneous acceleration.
WikiMama.in
2
W
i
k
i
M
a
m
a
.
i
n
- POYNTING VECTOR
When an electromagnetic wave advances, the electromagnetic energy flows in the direction of . The
total energy flowing per second per unit area perpendicular to the surface in free space (vacuum) is
called a Poynting vector S

, where
2
0 0
S c (E B) (E B) / = e = u

. The S.I. unit of S is watt/
(metre)
2
.
- RADIANT FLUX DENSITY
Radiant flux density is the average value of poynting vector ( S

) over a convenient time interval in

the propagation of electromagnetic wave. When the electromagnetic wave is incident on a surface,
the radiant flux density is called intensity of wave (which is denoted by I). Thus I = S.
A harmonic electromagnetic wave travelling along X-axis in free space can be described by periodic
variation of electric and magnetic fields along y-axis and z-axis with the equations.

0
E E cos(kx t) = e

and
( )
0
B B cos kx t = e


Then radiant flux density is given by ( )
2 2 2
0 0 0 0
S c (E B) c E B cos kx t = e = e e


Therefore ( )
2 2
0 0 0
| S| c | E B | cos kx t = e e

. The average value of S

over a single cycle period

T is given by
S

2 2
0 0 0
0
1 1
c E B
2 2c
= e =
u

- ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
The orderly distribution of electromagnetic radiations according to their wavelengths or frequency
is called the electromagnetic spectrum.
The major components of electromagnetic spectrum with their wavelength ranges in increasing
order are
1. Gamma rays [ = 6 10
19
m to 10
11
m]
2. X-rays [= 10
11
m to 3 10
8
m]
3. Ultraviolet [= 6 10
10
m to 4 10
7
m]
4. Visible light [= 4 10
7
m to 8 10
7
m]
5. Infra red [= 8 10
7
m to 3 10
5
m]
6. Heat radiations [= 10
5
m to 10
1
m]
7. Micro waves [= 10
3
m to 0.03 m]
8. Ultra high frequency [= 10
1
m to 1 m]
9. Very high radio frequency [= 1 m to 10 m]
10. Radio frequencies [ = 10 m to 10
4
m]
11. Power frequencies [ = 5 10
6
m to 6 10
6
m]
- TYPICAL USES OF ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
1. Radio and Microwave radiations are used in radio and T.V. communication systems. Microwave
radiations are also used in Radar communication.
2. Infrared radiations are used (i) in green houses to keep the plants warm (ii) in highlighting the
secret writings on ancient walls (iii) for looking through haze, fog and mist during war time, as
these radiations can pass through them.
WikiMama.in
3
W
i
k
i
M
a
m
a
.
i
n
3. Ultraviolet radiations are used (i) in preserving processed food by killing microorganisms (ii) in
the detection of invisible writing, forged documents, finger prints in forensic laboratory. (iii) For
understanding the structure of the molecules and arrangement of electrons in the external shells
of atoms.
4. X-rays have wide field of applications. These are used to get valuable information (i) about the
structure of atomic nuclei (ii) in the study of crystal structure (iii) about the fracture of bones and
other medical diagnosis etc.

WikiMama.in
4
W
i
k
i
M
a
m
a
.
i
n