(8)ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

CONDUCTION CURRENT -:The current flowing through the conducting wire is

called conduction current

MAXWELL’S DISPLACEMENT CURRENT

B. dl = μ˳ iC + iD

d∅E
B. dl = μ˳ IC + Ɛ˳
dt
d
B. dl = μ˳ IC + Ɛ˳ E. dA
dt

Displacement current is the current which arises due to time rate of change of
electric flux(∅𝐄 ) in some part of the electric circuit
d∅E
iD = Ɛ˳
dt
⟹When a capacitor is charged or a charge capacitor is allowed to discharge, the
electric flux between the plate of the capacitor change with time it gives rise to
displacement current between the plate
⟹ Displacement current has the same units as electric current, and it is a source of
the magnetic field just as actual current is
⟹The displacement current is precisely equal to the conduction current, when the
two are present in different parts of the circuit

FOUR MAXWELL EQUATION ARE GIVEN BELOW

(i) Gauss law in electrostatics. It states that the total electric flux through any closed
surface is always equal to 1 Ɛ˳times the net charge enclosed by the surface
𝐪
𝐄. 𝐝𝐬 = ˳
Ɛ

(ii) Gauss law in magnetism. It states that the net magnetic flux crossing any closed
surface is always zero
 𝐁. 𝐝𝐬 = 𝟎
⟹A direct consequence of Gauss' law in magnetism is that an isolated magnetic
monopole does not exist.

(iii) Faraday ‘s law of electromagnetic induction. It states that the induced e.m.f.
produced in a circuit is numerically equal to time rate of change of magnetic flux
through it
d∅B
e=−
dt

⟹ Since e.m.f. can be defined as the line integral of electric field, the above relation
may be expressed as..
𝐝∅𝐁
𝐄. 𝐝𝐥 = −
𝐝𝐭

(iv) Maxwell – Ampere ‘ circuital law . It states that the line integral of magnetic
field along a closed path is equal to 𝛍˳ times the total current sum of conduction(𝐈𝐂 )
and displacement currents(𝐈𝐃 ) threading the surface bounded by that closed path.
𝐝∅𝐄
𝐁. 𝐝𝐥 = 𝛍˳ 𝐈𝐂 + Ɛ˳
𝐝𝐭

ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES -:

Maxwell gave the idea of electromagnetic waves, while Hertz and other scientists
produced and studied these waves experimentally.

In 1865, Maxwell predicted the existence of electromagnetic waves on the basis of

mathematical equations, called Maxwell’s equations.

According to him, an accelerated charge produces a time varying magnetic field

(B), which in turn produces a time varying electric field (E). The two fields so
produced are mutually perpendicular and are source of each other. The mutually
perpendicular time varying electric and magnetic fields constitute electromagnetic
waves and propagate in space in a direction perpendicular to both the directions of
varying electric and magnetic fields
 x x
E = E˳ sin ω t − B = B˳ sin ω t −
C C

𝐄 = 𝐄˳𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝛚𝐭 − 𝐊𝐱 𝐁 = 𝐁˳𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝛚𝐭 − 𝐊𝐱

2π 2π
ω= K=
T λ
1 γλ=C
γ=
T
γ = Frequency λ = wavelength
T = Time period C = Speed of light
𝐄˳ =Amplitude of electric field
𝐁˳= Amplitude of Magnetic field
Negative sign between t and x implies that wave is
travelling in positive x-axis

PROPERTIES OF EL ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES -:

(i) Electromagnetic waves propagate in the form of varying electric and magnetic
fields, such that the two fields are perpendicular to each other
(ii) Electromagnetic waves are produced by accelerated charges
(iii) Electromagnetic waves do not require any material medium for their
propagation.
(iv) In free space, electromagnetic waves travel with a velocity(𝐂)
𝟏
𝐂= = 𝟑 𝐗 𝟏𝟎𝟖 𝐦/𝐬
𝛍˳𝛆˳
(v) When an electromagnetic wave travels from one medium to another, its
wavelength changes but frequency remains unchanged.
(vi) The ratio of the amplitude of electric(𝐄˳)& magnetic field(𝐁˳) is constant & it is
equal to velocity of the electromagnetic wave(𝐂)
𝐄˳ 𝐄
=𝐂 𝐨𝐫 =𝐂
𝐁˳ 𝐁

(vi) Energy in electromagnetic wave is divided equally between electric & magnetic
field Vector
(vii) Electromagnetic wave shows interference & diffraction
(viii) Electromagnetic waves are transverse in nature

AVERAGE ELECTRIC ENERGY

DENSITY OF EMW -:

2
1 2
1 BRMS
Energy UE = ε˳ERMS UB =
UED = UEnergy density = 2 2 μ˳
Volume
E˳ B˳
𝟐
𝐁𝐑𝐌𝐒 ERMS = BRMS =
𝐔𝐄𝐃 = 𝐔𝐄 + 𝐔𝐁 = 𝟐
𝛆˳𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐒 = 2 2
𝛍
UE = UB

INTENSITY OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES -:

It is defined as the energy crossing per second per unit area of a surface held
perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the electromagnetic waves. It is
denoted by I
U = UED C∆t A

U UED C∆t A
I= = = UED C
A∆t A∆t
𝟐
𝟐
𝐁𝐑𝐌𝐒 𝐂
𝐈= 𝛆˳𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐒 𝐂 =
𝛍˳
MOMENTUM OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE
E = mC 2 E = h𝛄
E γ = Frequency
m= 2
C E= Energy of photon
EC h= Planck's constant
p = mC = 2
C p= momentum
𝐄 𝐡 C = Speed of light
𝐩= =
𝐂 𝛌

HERTZ’S EXPERIMENT
In 1865 Maxwell had predicted the propagation of electromagnetic waves in the
form of varying electric and magnetic fields, which produce each other It was
concluded that the accelerated charge is the source of electromagnetic waves.

In 1887, Hertz experimentally produced the electromagnetic waves by using a

spark oscillator and then succeeded in detecting them also.

Hertz’s experimental arrangement consists of two metal plates P1 and P2 held

Parallel to each other and connected to two metal spheres S1 and S2 through thick
Metallic rods R1 and R2. The distance between the metal plates was about 60 cm and
the separation between the two spheres was about 2-3 cm. The spheres can be slided
over the rods, so as to adjust the gap between them. An induction coil is used to
apply a high voltage of several thousand volt across the two metal plates. When the
discharge of metal plates takes place in the form of a spark in the gap between
spheres S1 and S2, electromagnetic waves are radiated. The waves so radiated can be
detected with the help of a detector made of a circular coil and two metal spheres S`1
and S`2 as shown in Fig.
The high potential difference across the metal plates ionises the air between the
spheres S1 and S2. Since the two metal plates act as a capacitor of very small
capacitance C and the connecting wires offer very low inductance L, the resonant
frequency of the arrangement given by
𝟏
𝛄=
𝟐𝛑 𝐋𝐂

It results in oscillations of charges on the plates at such a high frequency. Therefore, a

highly oscillating electric field is produced across the vertical gap between the two
spheres. It, in turn, produces a highly oscillating Magnetic field of same frequency in
horizontal plane and perpendicular to the gap between the spheres. The oscillating
electric and magnetic fields constitute electromagnetic waves of the same frequency
and these waves are Radiated from the spark gap.

ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

Type Wave Production Application

length
range

Radio oscillating
> 0.1 m (i)Radio waves are used for wireless
electric communication purposes They are used to
circuits transmit radio signals
having an (ii) Radio waves are used in radio astronomy
inductor and
a capacitor
Microwave 0.1m to oscillating (i)Microwaves are used in the study of
1mm electric atomic and molecular structure
circuits or (ii)Microwaves are used in radar systems.
magnetron (iii)Microwaves are used in long distance
valve telephone communication systems.
(iv)Microwave ovens are used for cooking.
Infra-red 1mm to Vibration of (i)Infra-red rays are used for taking
700 nm atoms and photographs during the conditions of fog,
molecules smoke, etc
(ii)Infra-red rays absorption spectra is
used in the study of molecular structure
and then to check the purity of the
chemicals.
(iii)Used in remote switches in electronic
system such as TV.

Light 700 nm Electrons in

to atoms emit
400nm
The light
when they
move from
higher
energy level
to a lower
energy level
Ultraviolet 400 nm Inner shell (i)Ultra-violet rays destroy bacteria and kill
to 1nm electrons in germs in water purifiers
atoms moving (iii)Ultra-violet rays are used for checking the
from one mineral samples by making use of its
energy level property of causing flourescence.
to a lower
level
X-rays 1nm to X-ray tubes or (i) X-rays are used in surgery for the
10-3 nm inner shell detection of fractures
electrons (ii) Used in Radiotherapy
(iii) X-rays are used in engineering for
detecting, cracks, and gas pockets in metal
products
(iv) X-rays are used to study the structure of
crystals
Gamma <103nm Radioactive (i) Used in Radiotherapy
rays decay of the (ii) used to kill microorganisms
nucleus (iii) 𝛄-rays are used to produce nuclear
reactions