DISPLACEMENT CURRENT &
ELECTROMAGNETIC
WAVE
The phenomenon of Faraday’s electromagnetic induction
concludes that a changing magnetic field at a point with time
produces an electric field at that point. Maxwell, pointed out that
there is a symmetry in nature changing electric field with time at
a point produces a magnetic field at that point. It means that a
change in one field with time (either electric or magnetic)
produces another field. This idea led Maxwell to conclude that
the variation in electric and magnetic fields perpendicular to
each other, produces electromagnetic disturbances in space.
These disturbances have the properties of a wave and
propagate through space without any material medium. These
waves are called electromagnetic waves. They travel in
vacuum or free space with a velocity (3×𝟏𝟎𝟖 m𝒔−𝟏 )
•• Displacement Current :- It is due to the time-
varying electric field Displacement current acts as a source of
a magnetic field in exactly the same way as conduction
current.
ⅆ ϕϵ
It is given by I D =ε 0
ⅆt
This current Id passes through the
surface A and is known as Maxwell
displacement current.
Need for Displacement Current Ampere’s circuital law
for conduction current during charging of a capacitor was found
inconsistent. Therefore, Maxwell modified Ampere’s circuital
law.
The displacement current produces in space due to change of
electric flux linked with the surface. This reveals that, varying
electric field is the source of magnetic field.
The generalised Ampere’s circuital law is given by
Maxewell
Sources Of Electromagnetic Waves
Consider a charge oscillating with some frequency
accelerating charge).This produces an oscillating electric field
in space, which produces an oscillating magnetic field, which in
turn, is a source of oscillating electric field, and so on. The
oscillating electric and magnetic fields thus regenerate each
other, as the wave propagates through the space .
The frequency of the electromagnetic wave naturally equals the
frequency of oscillation of the charge. The energy associated
with the propagating wave comes at the expense of the energy
of the source the accelerated charge.
Nature Of Electromagnetic Waves
From Maxwell’s equations, it is found that electric and magnetic
fields in an electromagnetic wave are perpendicular to each
other, and to the direction of propagation. A typical example of
a plane electromagnetic wave propagating along the z direction
(the fields are shown as a function of the z coordinate, at a
given time t). The electric field 𝑬𝒙 is along the x axis, and varies
sinusoidally with z, at a given time. The magnetic field 𝑩𝒚is
along the y axis, and again varies sinusoidally with z. The
electric and magnetic fields 𝑬𝒙 and 𝑩𝒚 are perpendicular to
each other, and to the direction z of propagation.
Properties Of Electromagnetic Waves
Electromagnetic waves are produced by accelerated
charges.
They do not require any material medium for propagation.
In an electromagnetic wave, the electric (⃗E ) and magnetic
(B) field vectors are at right angles to each other and to
the direction of propagation. Hence electromagnetic
waves are transverse in nature.
Variation of maxima and minima in both E and B occur
simultaneously
Sources of electromagnetic waves
1. An electric charge at rest produces only an electrostatic
field around it.
2. A charge moving with uniform velocity produces both
electric and magnetic fields, here magnetic field does not
change with time hence it does not produce a time-varying
electric field.
3. An accelerating charge produces both an electric field and
magnetic field which varies with space and time and forms
electromagnetic waves.
4. An accelerating charge emits an electromagnetic wave of
the same frequency as the frequency of an accelerating
charge.
5. An electron orbiting around its nucleus in a stationary orbit
does not emit an electromagnetic wave. It will emit only
during the transition from higher energy orbit to lower
energy orbit.
6. An electromagnetic wave (X-ray) is produced when a
high-speed electron enters a target of high atomic weight.
7. Electromagnetic wave (γ-rays) is produced during the de-
excitation of the nucleus in radioactivity.
Energy densities of EMW
Electromagnetic Spectrum:-
Electromagnetic spectrum is an orderly distribution of
electromagnetic waves in terms of wavelength or frequency
Electromagnetic spectrum covers a wide range of wavelengths
(or) frequencies. There is no sharp division between one kind
of wave and the next. The overlapping in certain parts of the
spectrum shows that the particular wave can be produced by
different methods. We briefly describe these different types of
electromagnetic waves, in order of decreasing wavelengths or
increasing frequencies.
Maxwell predicted the existence of an electromagnetic wave.
Electromagnetic wave experimentally discovered by Hertz.
At the end of the nineteenth century, visible light, ultraviolet, infrared,
X-rays, and γ-rays had also been discovered. We now know that
electromagnetic waves include
1. Radio waves
2. Micro waves
3. Infrared waves
4. Visible rays
5. Ultra violet rays
6. X-rays
7. Gamma rays
(i). Radio waves
Radio waves are produced by the accelerated motion of charges in
conducting wires. They are used in radio and television
communication systems. They are generally in the frequency range
from 500 kHz to about 1000 MHz. Cellular phones use radio waves to
transmit voice communication in the ultrahigh-frequency (UHF)
band.
(ii). Microwaves
Microwaves, with frequencies in the gigahertz (GHz) range, are
produced by special vacuum tubes (called klystrons, magnetrons, and
Gunn diodes). Due to their short wavelengths, they are suitable for
the radar systems used in aircraft navigation. Radar also provides the
basis for the speed guns used to time fastballs, tennis serves, and
automobiles. Microwave ovens are an interesting domestic
application of these waves.
(iii). Infrared waves
Infrared waves are produced by hot bodies and molecules. This band
lies adjacent to the low-frequency or long-wavelength end of the
visible spectrum. Infrared waves are sometimes referred to as heat
waves. This is because water molecules present in most materials
readily absorb infrared waves.
Infrared lamps are used in physical therapy. Infrared radiation also
plays an important role in maintaining the earth’s warmth or average
temperature through the greenhouse effect. Infrared detectors are
used in Earth satellites, both for military purposes and to observe the
growth of crops.
The greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms the Earth’s
surface. When the Sun’s energy reaches the Earth’s atmosphere, some
of it is reflected back to space and the rest is absorbed and re-radiated
by greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon
dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and some artificial chemicals
such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
The absorbed energy warms the atmosphere and the surface of the
Earth. This process maintains the Earth’s temperature at around 33
degrees Celsius warmer than it would otherwise be, allowing life on
Earth to exist.
(iv). Visible rays
It is the part of the spectrum that is detected by the human eye. It
runs from about 4 × 1014 Hz to about 7 × 1014 Hz or a wavelength
range of about 700 – 400 nm. Visible light emitted or reflected from
objects around us provides us information about the world.
Our eyes are sensitive to this range of wavelengths. Different animals
are sensitive to different ranges of wavelengths. For example, snakes
can detect infrared waves, and the ‘visible’ range of many insects
extends well into the ultraviolet.
(v). Ultraviolet rays
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is produced by special lamps and very hot
bodies. The sun is an important source of ultraviolet light. But
fortunately, most of it is absorbed in the ozone layer in the
atmosphere at an altitude of about 40 – 50 km. UV light in large
quantities has harmful effects on humans.
Welders wear special glass goggles or face masks with glass windows
to protect their eyes from the large amount of UV produced by
welding arcs. Due to its shorter wavelengths, UV radiations can be
focussed into very narrow beams for high-precision applications such
as LASIK (Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) eye surgery. UV
lamps are used to kill germs in water purifiers.
(vi). X-rays
Its frequency order is 1016 Hz to 1021 Hz. Its wavelength lies between
10 nm to 10-4 nm. It is produced in a tube called a modern X-ray
tube. It is detected by photographic film, Geiger tubes and an
ionization chamber.
X-rays are used as a diagnostic tool in medicine and as a treatment for
certain forms of cancer. In engineering, it is used for detecting faults,
cracks, flaws, and holes. It is used for detecting pearls in oysters,
defects in rubber tires, and golds.
(vii). Gamma rays
They lie in the upper-frequency range of the electromagnetic
spectrum and have wavelengths from about 10 -10 m to less than 10-
14
m. This high-frequency radiation is produced in nuclear reactions
and is also emitted by radioactive nuclei. They are used in medicine to
destroy cancer cells.
