Electro Magnetic Waves Electromagnetic Waves 1

Introduction
A changing electric field at a point produces a magnetic field and a changing magnetic field
at that point yields and electric field. In other words, a change is either one produces the other.
Maxwell introduce the concept of classical electromagnetic theoty. This theory predicts that
accelerated charges produce electromagnetic waves which travel with the speed of light. It also
indicates that light waves are electromagnetic.
* Hertz was the first who produced the electromagnetic waves of about 6m wavelength in the
laboratory.
* J.C. Bose poroduced electromagnetic waves of wavelength ranging from 5 mm to 25 mm.
* Marconi successfully transmitted the electromagnetic waves upto a few kilometres.
Displacement Current
Consider the figure 1. When the swich S in the circuit is closed, charge flows from positive terminal
of the battery to positive plate of the capacitor, and charge also flows from the negative plate of the
capacitor back to the negative terminal of the battery. Until the plates are completely charged, there
is a current into the positive plate, and a current out of the negative plate, however there is no flow
of charges between the plates. There is current flow in the battery and connecting wires but the
there is no current flow between the plates. Thus there is a discontinuity in the current in the circuit
because of the capacitor. The concept of displacement current in introduced to avoid this
discontinuity.

As the charges builds up on the capacitor plates an electric field is set up between the plates. At any
time if q is the charge on the plates, then the electric field between the plates is-
 q
E 
0 0 A

When an additional charge q is added, it causes an additional field between the plates,

q
E 
0 A

If due to p charge flow in time t , we imagine a current I, then

I  p / t
I t
and E 
0 A

 E 
or I 0 A  
 t 
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 Electromagnetic Waves 2
Thus a changing electric field between the capacitor plates is equivalent to a current entering or
leaving the capacitor plates. Maxwell called this current, the displacement current.
Thus, a changing electric field within a capacito. The current is called the displacement current ID.

 dE 
I D 0 A  
 dt 

The usual current in the conducting wires is called conduction current IC. With the concept of
displacement current, there is no discontinuity in the current in the circuit (see fig) The displacement
current is numerically equal to the conduction current. The IC arises due to the flow of electrons,
while ID arises due to changing electric field.

Ampere-Maxwell's Law
(Generalised Ampere Law)
The general form of Ampere's law, as modified by Maxwell, can bow be stated. To the term for true
current (I) linking a closed path, we add the displacement current (Id) linking the path and Ampere's
law takes the form:
   d 
 B.dl   ( I  I
0 d )  0  I  0 E 
 dt 
Magnetic Field Caused by Changing Electric Field
When electric field between a capacitor plates is changing, a magnetic field is produced.

Let us consider circular parallel plates (having radius R). Let us determine the magnetic field B at a
distance r from the centre of the capacitor. Within the capacitor there is no conducting current (i.e.
IC = 0). Therefore, Ampere-Maxwell’s law gives-
 dE
 B.dl  0 0 dt

dE
or B 2 r  0 0 A
dt

dE
or B   const.
dt

Check Point:- A circular conducting loop of radius r = 5 cm is

placed in a magnetic field B changing at the rate of 2.5× 102

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 Electromagnetic Waves 3
T/s. What is the induced electric field in the loop?
Ans. Accoring to Faraday’s law of EMI,
  dM
 .dt  dt
E

dB
  r2
dt
For the path along the circular loop
 
 E.dl  E 2 r
Therefore,
dB
E e r   r 2
dt
or the induced electric field E is
r dB
E
2 dt

5  102
  2.5  102
2

= 6.25 N/C (verify units)

Maxwell's Equations
four Maxwell's equations are :
  q
1.  S .dS  0 .
E

This equation is Gauss's law of electrostatic which states that the total electric flux through any
closed surface equals the net charge inside that surface divided by 0 .
 
2.  S B.dS  0.

This equation is Gauss's law of magnetism. It states that the net magnetic flux through a closed
surface is zero. Magnetic field lines do not start or end at any point. So isolated magnetic monopoles
have not been observed in nature.
dB
3. e
dt

  d B
 E.dl   dt
.

This equation is Faraday's law of induction. It relates an electric field with changing magnetic
flux (B ). According to this law, the line integral of the electric field around any closed path (emf)

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 Electromagnetic Waves 4
is equal to the rate of change of magnetic flux through any surface bounded by that path.
 
4.  B.dl   ( I  I
0 d )   0 I   0 0 ( d E / dt ).

This equation is Ampere-Maxwell's law. This law states that the line integral to the magnetic field
around any closed path is determined by the sum of the net conduction current (I) through that path
and the rate of change of electric flux (E ) through any surface bounded by that path.
The Production of EM Wave
Maxwell in 1865 predicted theroetically that electromagnetic waves of all frequencies are possible
and light is an EM wave of suitable frequency range.
An oscillating electric dipole is a basic source of EM waves. It is an efficient source if the size of
the wavelength of the EM wave. The frequency of the EM wave is the same as the frequency of
oscillating charges.
The first experimental demonstration of the existence of EM wave was performed by Hertz in 1887
He produced waves of wavelength  6 cm. Seven year’s after Hertiz’s experiment, J.C. Bose in india
also successfully produced EM waves of wavelength range 5 mm to 25 mm. J.C. Bose was able to
detect these waves withing laboratory distances. Marcont also produced EM waves in the wavelength
range 5 mm to 25 mm, but by connecting one plate to an antenna and the other plate to earth he was
able to radiate and detect EM waves to several kilometers. Later Macroni was first to establish
wireless communication across the English channel (distance  50 km )
Hertz Experiment
Hertz experimental arrangement consists of two metal plates P1 and P2 connected to two metal
knobs K1 and K2 through thick conducting rods. These rods are connected to an induction coil which
supplies pulses of high voltages (few thousand volts) which charges the plates P1 and P2 . If the
separation between the form of sparks in the gap between the knobs. As a result of oscillating
discharge, electromagnetic waves are produced. These waves propagate in space.

The detector is a circular copper wire with two metal knobs at the ends. When the
oscillating manetic field of the em wave passes through the loop D, then due to change in magnetic
flux, induced emf is produced which produces a discharge between the metal knobs of detector D.

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 Electromagnetic Waves 5
The wavelength of the waves produced in Hertz experimental arrangement was   6 cm (frequency
 50 MHz ) Hertz demonstrated that the EM waves so produced possessed the properties of light,
like, reflection, polarization, diffraction etc.
The electromagnetic waves of wavelength of the order of a few meters are widely used now in
telecommunication.

Sources of Electromagnetic Waves

Waves of energy that are caused by the acceleration of charged particles and consist of electric
and magnetic fields vibrating transversely and sinusoidally at right angles to each other
and to the direction of propagation are called electromagnetic waves or electromagnetic
radiation.
These wave are produced in the following physical phenomena.
1. An electric charge at rest has an electric field in the region around it but no magnetic field. When a
charge moves, it produces both electric and magnetic fields. If the charge moves with a constant
velocity, the magnetic field will not change with time. As such it cannot produce an electromagnetic
wave. But if the charge is accelerated, both the magnetic and electric fields will change with space
and time and an electromagnetic wave is produced.
An accelerated charge emits an electromagnetic wave.
2. An oscillating charge (as in the case of LC oscillations) emits an electromagnetic wave
3. An electron will emit an electromagnetic wave (  ray ) only when it falls from an orbit of
higher energy to one of lower energy.
4. Electromagnetic waves (X-rays) are produced when fast moving electrons hit a target of high
atomic number.
Transverse nature of electromagnetic waves
Electric field wave and the magnetic field wave are transverse, so the electromagnetic wave which is
combination of both these waves, is also transverse in nature.
Consider a plane electromagnetic wave travelling along X-direction with its wave front in the Y-Z
plane and ABCD is its portion at time t (Figure). The values of electric field and magentic field to
the left of ABCD will depend on x and t (and not on y and z as the wave under consideration is a plane
wave propagation in X-direction).

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 Electromagnetic Waves 6
According to Gauss's law, the total electric flux across the paralleopiped ABCDOEFG is zero because
it does not enclose any charge.
  
 E.ds  0     E.ds   E.ds   0
     DECF 
 E .ds   E.ds     E.ds  
 OABG
    E.ds 
   
 ABCD OGFE   BGFC OEDA 


Since electric field E does not depend on y and z, so the contribution to the electric flux coming
from the faces normal to y and z axes cancel out in pairs.
   
 E.ds    E.ds  0
ABCD OGFG

  '
 E.ds  Ex S  E.ds   E x S
vkSj OGFE
ABCD

 ExS - ExS = O
(Ex - Ex)S = 0
Ex – Ex = 0
Ex = Ex
This equation shows that the value of the x-compoent of electric field does not change with time. In
other words, electric field along X-axis is static.
Since the static electric field cannot propagate the wave, hence the electric field parallel to the
direction of the propagation of the wave is zero.
Electric field is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave. Similarly, it can
be proved that the magnetic field is perpendicular to the idirection of the propagation of the
wave, Since both electric and magnetic field are perpendicular to the direction of the propa-
gation of the wave, so electromagnetic wave is transverse in nature.
Speed of electromagnatic wave
1
c
 0 0

 0  4  107 Tm / A
 0  8.85  10 12 C 2 / Nm 2

c  3  108 m / s

Speed in Medium
1
V 


If refractive index of medium is n then

n = speed of light in vaccum (C)/ Speed of light in medium (V)

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 Electromagnetic Waves 7
1/ 0 0
n
1/  


n
0 0

 

 0 0

n   r r

For paramagnetic substances

r  1

n= r

The sinusoidally varying electric and magnetic fields of a plane electromagnetic wave travelling
along x-axis are given as
E y = E0 sin (kx - t ) ... (1)
Bz  Bo sin(kx  t ) ... (2)

propagation constant k  2 / 
angular frequency   2

 2
    c
k 2 / 

c  


for vaccum c
k


for other medium V
k

For electromagnetic waves speed of light is also equals to ratio of the electric field to the
magnetic field.
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 Electromagnetic Waves 8
E E0
for vaccum  c
B B0

E E0
for other medium  V
B B0
Characteristics of Electromagnetic Waves
1. The electromagnetic waves are produced by an accelerated charge.
 
2. At any point in vacuum, the electric and magnetic field vectors E and B are mutually
perpendicular to each other as shown in figure.
3. These waves are transverse in nature, i.e., the electric and magnetic fields are perpendicular to the
direction of propagation of waves.
4. E and B in empty space are related by E/B = c.
5. Electromagnetic waves of many different frequencies can exist.
6. The speed of em waves depends only upon the electric and magnetic properties of the medium.
in vaccum c  1 / 0 0 .
7. Electromagnetic waves transport momentum and energy as they travel through space and exert
pressure on a surface they impinge on.
8. Experimentaly shown that it is the electric vector which plays the rote of light vector.
9. Inpedence during propogation of E.M. waves

E 
Z  
H 

0
for vaccum, Z  120  377
0

10. Energy density : Energy of unit volume of E.M. waves

1 1 B2
u   E2 
2 2 

V = E/B
E
B
V

1 1
in medium V ,V 2 
 

1 1 B2
u   E2 
2 2 

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 Electromagnetic Waves 9

 E
 B  V 

1 1 E2
u   E2 
2 2 V 2

1 1 E2
u  E2 
2 2 1



1 1
u  E2   E2
2 2

u  E 2

Energy denstiy in form of magnetic filed

1 B2
u   E2 
2 2

 E  BV 

1 B2
u   B 2v2 
2 2

1  B2 B2
u 
2   2

1 B2 B2
u 
2  2

B2
u


11. Mean Energy Density :

u  E 2

mean energy density  u  or u

E  E0 sin t

u  E 2

E 2  E02 sin 2 t

E 2  E02 sin 2 t

 sin 2 t  1
2

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 Electromagnetic Waves 10
1
u   E 02
2

in the form of magnetic field

1 B02
u
2 

12. Pointing vector :

Energy pasing per unit area per unit time perpendicular to the direction of propogation of the
wave.
 
 EB
S

 
 B  H
 
 E   H
S

  
S  EH

 1
S  EBnˆ


 E
B  V 
 

1 E2
S
 V

1 1 1
¼V  or  so  ½
 V  V2 

E2
S
1
V
V2 

S  VE 2

for vaccum S 0 CE 2

12. Intensity of wave : It is the average energy pasing per unit area per unit time perpendicular to the
direction of propogation of the wave

I S  S  V E 2 

 2 E02 
I  V E
2
E  
 2 

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 Electromagnetic Waves 11
1
I  VE02
2

1
I  E02V
2

 1 
I  V u  u   E02 
 2 

for vaccum V=C

[I = C u ]
13. Radiation pressure :
Pressure exerted by EM waves on the surface.
E = mC2
Momentum p = mC
E
p
C

energy of EM waves on per unit area in per unit time


I = Cu
I
so momentum p
C

Cu
p
C
momentum pu
on absorbing surface
1. force / area = pressure
pressure = force (if A = 1)
dp
2. F
dt
F = dp (if dt = 1 sec)
presure (P) = dp (change in movmentum)
pressure Pa  u  O

1
Pa  u u  E02
2

1
Pa   E02
2

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 Electromagnetic Waves 12
u
average pressure Pa 
3
For reflecting surface

Pr  u  (u )
Pr  2u
2u
average pressure aPr 
3

Check Point:-If density of incident light on the surface of earth is 1.4 Kw/m2 . Them calculate mean
energy density and pressure on absorbing surface.
Sol. I  Cu
I 1.4  1000
u 
C 3  108  12

u  4.67  106 J / m3 Ans.

U 4.67  106
Pa  
3 3

Pa  1.56  10 6 N / m 2 Ans.
Electromagnetic Spectrum
All these EM waves have different frequencies and hence different wavelengths, but they all travel
with the same speed, c = 3 × 108 m/s in vacuum. The range of frequencies (or wavelengths) over
which electromagnetic radiation can be propagated is called the electromagnetic spectrum

Ultra- Infra- Micro Radio waves

-rays X-rays
violet
Light red waves Short Long
Wave- 0.1Å 100 Å 4000 Å 7000 Å 1 mm 1m 1 km
length
Spectrum of Electromagnetic-waves

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 Electromagnetic Waves 13
S. Name of Discoverer Waveleng Source Properties Uses
No Wave th Range
1 Cosmic Becquerl & <10–4 Å blast in Energy > 108 ev Study of universe
Rays Curie universe
2 - Rays Becquerl & 10–4 Å to In certain Chemical i) used to produce
Curie 0.1 Å nuclear reaction with nuclear reaction
reactions, photographic ii) used in radio therapy
in particle plate, for the treatment of
accelerators, in influrocent, tumour and cancer.
nuclear decay ionization power iii) used in food industry
less, high to kill pathogenic
penetration microorganism.
power iv) used to provide
valuable information
about the structure of
atomic nucleus.
v) Sterlize equipment
3 X- Rays Rontgen 0.1Å to Deceleration of Properties of - i) these are used in
100Å high- Rays but surgery to detect the
energy penetration fracture, diseased
electrons power is less, organs, stones in the
bombarding a photo electric body, etc.
metal effect ii) These are used in
target engineering to detect
fault, crack on bridges,
testing of welds.
iii) These are used at
metro station to detect
metal or explosive
material.
iv) These are used in
scientific research.
4 Ultra Ritter 100Å to The sun, very i) UV light is i) Used to checking
violet 4000Å hot objects, absorbed by mineral sample.
Rays (UV) arcs & glass causes ii) Used to study
sparks, mercury many chemical molecular structure.
vapour lamps reactions. iii) To kill germs in
ii) Damages and minerals.
kills iv) To sterilize surgical
living cells. instruments.
iii) Causes v) Detect forgery. A
sunburn. document may have a
iv) Near signature written in
ultraviolet is invisible ink containing a
strongly fluorescent substance
absorbed by which will show up in
ozone in the UV light.
Earth’s vi) Make the washing
atmosphere. appear some soap

MASTERS
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1-Anasagar 1-Anasagar
Circular Road,Circular
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Chaupati, Ajmer -0145-2633111
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Ajmerpowders contain a
 Electromagnetic Waves 14

frequency and fluorescent chemical

energy of UV which will absorb UV in
light sunlight and release it as
causes extra visible light.
fluorescence in a Vii) treat skin disorders
number of with UV lamps.
chemicals.
5 Visible Newton 3800Å to The Sun, Visible light is i) To see the things.
Light (1666) 7800Å hot objects, refracted by ii) Communication
lamps, lasers, glass and system
Ionisedgases focused by the iii) Identifying elements
eye and is in chemistry : flame
essential for tests.
photosynthesis
and plant
growth.
Effect on
Photographic
Plate,
Show
photoelectric
effect
6 Infrared Harshel 7800Å to Sun, Heating effect i) These are used in
Waves 10–4 m warm and hot satellite for army
(IR) or objects such as purpose.
Thermal fires and ii) These are used in
Waves people. weather forecasting.
iii) These are used for
producing dehydrated
fruits.
iv) These are used in
solar water heater,
solar cells and cooker.
v) photography through
haze and fog and in
night
vi) thermography in
which infrared film is
used to detect tumors and
other disorders.
vii) therapeutic
purposes such as easing
pain in strained muscles
by using IR lamps.
7 Micro or Marconi 10–4m to1 By special Waves of 1mm i) These are used in
short m electronic to 1m are known RADAR systems for
waves devices, called as hertz waves aircraft navigation.
klystrons and ii) These are used in
Magnetrons microwave oven for
cooking purpose.

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 Electromagnetic Waves 15

iii) These are used in

study of atomic and
molecular structure.
iv) These are used to
measure the speed of
vehicle, speed of cricket
ball, etc.
8 Radio Marconi >1m These are as a Reflection & i) for radio, TV,
waves result of Differaction telephone and satellite
charges communications
accelerating ii) navigation
through iii) in nuclear magnetic
conducting resonance imaging
wires and are (NMRI)
generated by
electronic FM-88 MHz to 108 MHz
TV-54 MHz to 890 MHz
devices as LC
Cellular phones-840 MHz
oscillators to 935 MHz
FM (Frequency
Modulator)
Cellular Phones are
based on UHF (Ultra
High Frequency)

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