TRANSMISSION AND

PROPAGATION OF
ELECTROMAGNETIC
WAVE (EM)
OBJECTIVES
A.Describe the transmission and
propagation of electromagnetic
waves.
B.Discuss the properties of EM
waves.
WAVE
are disturbances that travel
through space-time, accompanied
by a transfer of energy. It is
characterized by amplitude,
frequency, and wavelength.
 ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE
is produced by oscillating or
accelerating charges.
Have you experience
electromagnetic
waves?
Electromagnetic waves are waves that
can travel through the vacuum of
outer space. Mechanical waves,
unlike electromagnetic waves, require
the presence of a material medium to
transport their energy from one
location to another.
The electric and magnetic waves are
perpendicular to each other, and to the
direction of propagation.
PROPERTIES OF
ELECTROMAGNETI
C WAVE
Properties of Electromagnetic (EM) Wave

can travel through a vacuum

can travel at the speed which is constant in a

given medium and has a value of c= 3.0 x 10 8
m/s in a vacuum

c = speed of light or v = wave speed

Properties of Electromagnetic (EM) Wave

Obey the wave equation  c=fλ

Wave Speed (m/s)= frequency (Hz) X wavelength (m)

consist of oscillating electric (E) and magnetic (B)

field vectors at right angles to each other and at
right angles to the direction of propagation of the
wave.
Since all the EM waves have the same speed(v)
which is equal to speed of light(c), as wavelength
decreases, frequency of the wave increases.
Properties of electromagnetic wave (EM) Wave
have an electric field that travels perpendicular
with the magnetic field.

form when moving charged particles transfer

energy through a field.

are invisible to the eye but detectable. Only

visible light is seen by humans.
EM are transverse wave
 Crest • Highest point of the wave

Trough • Lowest point of the wave

Wavelength • Distance between identical
(λ). points on consecutive waves
• Number of wave that pass a point per
Frequency(f) unit time.

Amplitude • Height of the wave from origin and

crest 0r trough

Period • Time between passage of successive crest.

 ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
The electromagnetic Spectrum is
arranged in decreasing wavelength but
increasing frequencies and energy.
They are arranged as follows: radio
waves, microwaves, infrared, visible
light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma
rays.
Electromagnetic waves
are arranged on the
electromagnetic
spectrum by wavelength,
frequency and energy.
lowest energy waves
have the longest
wavelength and
the lowest
frequency.
highest energy waves
have the shortest
wavelength and
the highest frequency.
Which has
the longer
wavelength?
Which has
the higher
frequency?
 Using the illustration above, determine the wavelength ranges of each of the forms of electromagnetic waves.
Electromagnetic Wave Wavelength Range (meters)

Radio Wave
Microwave
Infrared
Visible Light
red
orange
Yellow
green
blue
violet
Ultraviolet
X-ray
Gamma Ray
GUIDE
QUESTIONS :
1. Which electromagnetic wave has the longest wavelength?
2. Which electromagnetic wave has the shortest
wavelength?
3. Observe what happens to the wavelength of the
electromagnetic waves as they progress (goes rightward
from the figure). Does the wavelength of the EM waves
increase or decrease as we go from radio wave to gamma
ray?
 Using the illustration above, determine the wavelength ranges of each of the forms of electromagnetic waves.
Electromagnetic Wave Frequency (Hertz)

Radio Wave
Microwave
Infrared
Visible Light
red
orange
Yellow
green
blue
violet
Ultraviolet
X-ray
Gamma Ray
GUIDE
QUESTIONS :
4. Which among the EM waves has the highest frequency?
5. Which among the EM waves has the lowest frequency?
6. The energy of an EM wave also depends on its frequency,
which means waves with higher frequency has higher energy too.
Which among the EM waves has the highest energy?
7. Which among the EM waves has the lowest energy?
8. What happens to the frequency of the electromagnetic waves as
it progresses? Does the frequency of the EM waves increase or
decrease as we go from radio wave to gamma ray?