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Propagation of Electromagnetic Waves: Learn their Modes of

Propagation, Properties with Solved Examples
Last updated on May 21, 2023

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Overview Test Series

Electromagnetic waves are a type of radiation that is created as a result of vibrations between electric and
magnetic field. They are a result of superposition between electric field and magnetic field and the way in
which they travel is known as the propagation of electromagnetic waves.

In this Physics article, you will learn about the propagation of electromagnetic waves, their modes,
properties, methods and direction of propagation and a few solved numerical problems.

What are Electromagnetic Waves?

Electromagnetic waves are a form of energy that can travel through space and carry information. These
waves consist of electric and magnetic fields that move at the speed of light. They can travel through air,
water, and even empty space.

Electromagnetic waves come in different types, like radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light,
ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays. Each type has its own frequency and wavelength, which determine its
unique characteristics and how it interacts with objects.

What's interesting is that electromagnetic waves can act as both waves and particles. We call these
particles photons, which are tiny packets of energy that carry the wave.

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Propagation of Electromagnetic Waves

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electromagnetic wave is generated, it consists of electric and magnetic fields that oscillate and create a
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 wave pattern. These fields are perpendicular to each other and also perpendicular to the direction in which
the wave is moving.

As the wave travels, it doesn't need any medium to move through. Unlike sound waves that require a
medium like air or water, electromagnetic waves can travel through empty space. This is why we can
receive radio signals from faraway places and see light from distant stars.

Electromagnetic waves propagation is important for the purpose of transmission of energy but at the same
time overexposure to electromagnetic waves can also be harmful to nature.

Generally, there are three modes of propagation of EM waves: ground waves, sky waves and space waves.

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 Modes of Propagation of Electromagnetic Waves
Before we start with the propagation of electromagnetic waves, let’s understand the whole spectrum of EM
waves

The diagram above represents the whole EM wave spectrum. Electromagnetic waves have the capability to
even travel through a vacuum. For example, light, which has a constant speed of 3x108 m/s

There are various modes for the propagation of electromagnetic waves

Ground Wave:

Ground waves have a frequency range between 3-30 Mhz.

They generally work in low or medium frequency ranges over local range communication.
They are used from land to the ionosphere to communicate.
Ground waves propagate over Earth’s surface. They are also known as surface waves.

Space Wave

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 They work in a frequency range from 30MHz to 300MHz.
It is also called tropospheric propagation.
The space waves travel through the atmosphere from transmitter antenna to receiver antenna directly
or after being reflected from the ground.

Sky Wave

These waves have the ability to pass through the Earth’s atmosphere. The majority of these rays are
reflected by the ionosphere.
These waves travel from the transmitter to the receiver.
Sky waves have a frequency range of 2MHz to 30MHz.
The highest frequency reflected by a sky wave by the ionosphere is known as the critical frequency
given by the formula,

Sign
VcUp
=Now & )2
(Nmax

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max is the number of density electrons per meter cube.
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 The minimum distance from the transmitter at which the sky wave of a frequency is not more than the
critical frequency is reflected back to Earth is known as Skip distance. It is given by the formula –

2
V max
Dskip = 2h[ ]
Vc

Where Vmax is the maximum frequency and Vc is the critical frequency.

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Properties of Electromagnetic Waves

Following are the properties of electromagnetic waves.

They have the ability to travel in vacuum and at the speed of light.
Electromagnetic waves oscillate periodically.
They inherit the property of a transverse wave.
These waves are polarized and can’t be deflected in electric or magnetic fields (for example
polarization of light waves)
The electric and magnetic fields which oscillate in perpendicular positions have the same phase.
Electromagnetic waves also exhibit the properties of refraction, interference and diffraction.

Direction of Propagation of Electromagnetic Waves

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 The polarization and antenna play a major role in the propagation of a wave.

Let us understand the direction of propagation of electromagnetic waves from the diagram above.

The electromagnetic wave is traveling in x-direction

The electric field is propagating in the x-y plane.
The magnetic field is propagating in the x-z plane.
The angle that the electric field makes with the y-axis is unique.
The electric field vector is perpendicular to the x-axis but the angle it makes with the y-axis is different
for different waves.
In free space, the EM wave energy travels at the speed of light and the magnitude of the energy flux
(S) is given by the amount of energy per unit area perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the
1
wave per unit time. The mathematical expression is given by S = E × B
μ0

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 Solved Examples on Electromagnetic Waves

Example 1. A plane EM wave of frequency 25MHz travels in space along the x-axis at a particular point ,
its energy E = 6.3 V/m. What would be the magnitude of the magnetic field at that point?

Solution 1. Given data,

Energy (E) = 6.3 V/m

And the speed of light in vacuum (c) = 3 × 108 m/s

Hence,

E
B =
c

6.3V /m
==
8
3 × 10 m/s

= 2.1 × 10−8 V /s

Hence the magnitude of the magnetic field is 2.1 × 10−8 V /s

Example 2. Light with an energy flux of 18W /cm2 On a non-reflecting surface at normal incidence.
Surface area is 20cm2 . Find the total momentum in a time span of 30 minutes.

Solution 2. The total energy falling on the surface (U) = energy flux (E) x surface area (A) x time(t)

= U = 18 x 20 x 30 x 60

= U = 6.48x105 Joules.

Hence the total momentum for complete absorption,

U
p =
c

5
6.48 × 10
p =
8
3 × 10

= 2.16 × 10−13 kg m/s is the total momentum absorbed in 30 mins.

Example 3. What would be the critical frequency of a given EM wave, if its frequency is 27MHz and the
electron density Nmax is 64?
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Solution 3.
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 1

Then Vc = 64 2 = 8

The critical frequency would be 8MHz.

Hope this article was informative and helpful for your studies and exam preparations. Stay tuned to the
Testbook app for more updates and topics related to Physics and various such subjects. Also, reach out to
the test series available to examine your knowledge regarding related exams.

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Propagation of Electromagnetic Waves FAQs

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 How does propagation of waves work?

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