Wave propagation

• Once a radio signal has been radiated by antenna ,it travel or

propagate through space and will ultimately reach the receiving
antenna.
• Em signal can take one or more several paths to receiving antenna.
• Paths that radio signal takes depends upon many factors like frq of
signals , atmospheric conditions and time of day
Three paths that EM signal takes
Ground or surface waves
• It leaves the antenna and remains close to earth.
• It actually follow curvature of earth and travel at distance beyond
horizon
• Ground wave propagation is the strongest at low and medium freq
ranges.
• That is ,g waves are the main signal path for radio signal in
30khz to 3Mhz range
• The signal can propagate for hundreds and some times thousand
miles at these low freq.
• Am broadcast signals are propagate primerly by GW.
• At higher freq byond 3Mhz the earth begins to attenunate EM
signal.
Sky waves
• That signal is radiated by antenna into upper atmosphere where it is
bent or reflected back to earth.
• The bending of signal is caused by a region in upper atmosphere
called ionosphere .
• Ultraviolet radiation from sun cause upper atmosphere to inionize .
• That is to be become electrically charged
• Invisible layers exist above earth.
• At its lowest point ,ionosphere is approximately at 30mi above earth
and extends up to 250 mi above ground.
• Ionosphere is divided into D ,E and F layers
• D and E are weakly ionized because farthest from sun.
• They exists in day lights during
• During day lights hours try to absorbs radio signals in mediun freq
range from 300 khz to 3Mhz.
• F layers further F1 and F2 are highy ionized due to close to sun.
• F layer exists both daylight and nightime hours.
• Most effect on EM signals.
• Causes of refraction of radio signal.
• Refraction is bending of radio signal
• When radio signal goes into ionosphere and different level of
ionization cause radio waves to be gradually bent .
• Direction of bending signals depend upon angle at which radio
waves enters ionopshre and different degree of ionization of layers.
• When angle is large with respect to earth radio signals slightly bent
and pass on through ionosphere and are lost in space.
• If angle is smaller ,radio signal bent and reflected back to earth.
• Radio waves are sent back to earth with minimum loss and result
signal is propagate over extremely longer distance
• 3to 30Mhz
• Long distance communication
Space or direct waves