Electromagnetic Waves

Tuesday, December 6, 2022 Dr GSK - Department of Physics
CHAPTER-5
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WHY STUDY ELECTROMAGNETIC
WAVES
Numerous application in our day to day life
WHY STUDY ELECTROMAGNETIC
WAVES
Important Role in Communication
WHAT ARE ELECTROMAGNETIC
WAVES
Coupled Time Varying Electric and Magnetic field
that propagates in space
Tuesday, December 6, 2022
HOW ARE ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES PRODUCED?
NOT A SOURCE OF EM WAVES:
 stationary charges produces only electrostatic fields,
Dr GSK - Department of Physics

 charges in uniform motion produces magnetic fields
that, however, do not vary with time.
NOTE:
 It is an important result of Maxwell’s theory that
accelerated charges radiate electromagnetic waves.
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 Consider a charge oscillating with some frequency. (An
oscillating charge is an example of 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, so to speak, as the wave
propagates through the space.
 The frequency of the electromagnetic wave naturally
equals the frequency of oscillation of the charge.
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is an electromagnetic
wave.
Light
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CHARACTERISTICS OF EM WAVES
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HERTZ EXPERIMENT
 Hertz experimental set up
consists of two copper or zinc
plates P and P2 placed parallel

to each other separated by a
distance of 0.6 m (Fig. 4.2).
 These plates are connected to
two well polished metal
spheres A and B through thick
copper wires.
 A high potential difference of
several thousand volts is
applied between the plates by
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using an induction coil.
HERTZ EXPERIMENT

 The air in the small gap between A and B 2 to 3 cm) gets
ionized due to high potential difference. This acts as a path
for the discharge of the plates.
 A spark is produced between the spheres A and B. This

results in a very high frequency (5 x 107 Hz) oscillations of
charges on the plates.
 Thus a high frequency electric field is produced in the
vertical gap between A and B, and a magnetic field of the
same frequency is produced in the horizontal plane
perpendicular to the gap between the spheres A and B.
 Electromagnetic waves consisting of these oscillating
electric and magnetic fields are radiated from the spark gap.
The wavelength of the radiations emitted is nearly 6 m.
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 Hertz also used a detector to detect the electromagnetic
radiations produced in the experiment.

 Detector consists of an open metallic ring of diameter
0.7 m with small spheres C and D separated by a small
gap.
 The ring is so arranged that it's plane is perpendicular the
magnetic field produced by the oscillating charges.
 The oscillating magnetic field linked with the ring causes
a large induced emf which results in a spark between the
spheres C and D.
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EMERGENCE OF EM WAVES
Maxwell Equations
Maxwell: Mother of EM Waves
Modification to Ampere Circuital Law

AMPERE’S LAW
 Statement:Line Integral of Magnetic field around a
closed path is equal to the current enclosed by that path
Transportation of
charged particles w.r.t.
time
Inconsistency in Ampere’s Law

MAXWELL'S MODIFICATION TO AMPERE’S LAW
Magnetic
needle deflect
near plates of
capacitor
Magnetic needle deflect near wire carrying current
No Charge Particles between plates of capacitor, so according

to ampere’s law, there should be no magnetic field
MAXWELL'S MODIFICATION TO AMPERE’S LAW
Consider a Capacitor connected to AC supply
Capacitor stores charge on plates which creates continuously

changing Electric field
Electric Field give rise to changing Electric Flux or electrical

displacement: Properties same as current
DISPLACEMENT CURRENT
Displacement Current
Change of Electric Flux w.r.t.

time
Presence of Electric Field

between plates of Capacitor
AN EXTENSION OF AMPERE’S LAW...
Maxwell reasoned that Ampere’s Law would also apply to
the displacement current.
Ampere
Maxwell Law
EM waves
became
possible
MAXWELL EQUATIONS
 Gauss Law of Electrostatics:
Charge is source
of Electric Field
 Gauss Law of Magnetostatics

Magnetic Monopoles
does not exist
 Faradays Law
Time Varying Magnetic
Field generates Electric
field
MAXWELL EQUATIONS
 Ampere Maxwell Law
Time Varying Electric Field generates Magnetic field even in

free space due to changing Electric Flux
Last two equations gives prediction of Electromagnetic

Waves
FORMATION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
Direction of
propagation
Induced Electric and Magnetic field oppose the flux producing

it
Electric field, magnetic field and direction of propagation are
perpendicular to each other
ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE
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MATHEMATICAL REPRESENTATION OF EM WAVES

 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 B y is 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.
Ex = E0 sin (kz–ωt)
By= B0 sin (kz–ωt)
 Here k is related to the wave length λ of the wave by the
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usual equation k=2 π/ λ
 and ω is the angular frequency.
 k is the magnitude of the wave vector (or propagation

vector) k and its direction describes the direction of
propagation of the wave.
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ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
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USES OF EM WAVES
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THE WAVES (IN ORDER…)

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.
 The AM (amplitude modulated) band is from 530 kHz to
1710 kHz.
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Used in: RADAR, cooking food, satellite
transmissions
RADIOWAVES
 Higher frequencies upto 54 MHz are used for short wave

bands.

 TV waves range from 54 MHz to 890 MHz. The FM
(frequency modulated) radio band extends from 88 MHz
to 108 MHz.
 Cellular phones use radio waves to transmit voice
communication in the ultrahigh frequency (UHF) band.
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MICROWAVES

 Microwaves (short-wavelength radio waves), 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
fast balls, tennis serves, and automobiles.
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 Microwave ovens are an interesting domestic application
of these waves.

 In such ovens, the frequency of the microwaves is selected
to match the resonant frequency of water molecules so
that energy from the waves is transferred efficiently to the
kinetic energy of the molecules. This raises the 43
temperature of any food containing water
INFRARED WAVES
 Infrared waves are produced by hot bodies and molecules.
 This band lies adjacent to the low-frequency or long-wave
length 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 (many other molecules, for
example, CO2 , NH3 , also absorb infrared waves).
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 After absorption, their thermal motion increases, that is,
they heat up and heat their surroundings.
 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.
 Used for finding people in the dark and in TV

remote control devices
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 Incoming visible light (which passes relatively easily
through the atmosphere) is absorbed by the earth’s
surface and reradiated as infrared (longer wavelength)
radiations.

 This radiation is trapped by greenhouse gases such as
carbon dioxide and water vapour.
 Infrared detectors are used in Earth satellites, both for
military purposes and to observe growth of crops.
 Electronic devices (for example semiconductor light
emitting diodes) also emit infrared and are widely used
in the remote switches of household electronic systems
such as TV sets, video recorders and hi-fi systems.
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VISIBLE LIGHT RAYS

 It is the most familiar form of electromagnetic waves.
 It is the part of the spectrum that is detected by the
human eye.
 It runs from about 4 × 1014 Hz to about 7 × 1014Hz 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 range of
wavelengths.
 For example, snakes can detect infrared waves, and the
‘visible’ range of many insects extends well into the
ultraviolet. 48
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Visible Light
Remembering the Order
ROY G. BV
red
orange
yellow
green
blue
violet
ULTRAVIOLET RAYS

 It covers wavelengths ranging from about 4 × 10–7 m
(400 nm) down to 6 × 10–10m
 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.
 Exposure to UV radiation induces the production of
more melanin, causing tanning of the skin.
 UV radiation is absorbed by ordinary glass. Hence, one
cannot get tanned or sunburn through glass windows. 51
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 Welders wear special glass goggles or face masks with
glass windows to protect their eyes from 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.
 Ozone layer in the atmosphere plays a protective role,

and hence its depletion by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
gas (such as freon) is a matter of international concern.
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Ultraviolet Light:
Main use:
Although we cannot see UV light, bees, bats, butterflies, some

small rodents and birds can.
UV on our skin produces vitamin D in our bodies. Too much
UV can lead to sunburn and skin cancer. UV rays are easily
blocked by clothing.
Used for sterilization because they kill bacteria.
X-RAYS

 Beyond the UV region of the electromagnetic spectrum
lies the X-ray region.
 We are familiar with X-rays because of its medical
applications.

 It covers wavelengths from about 10–8 m (10 nm) down
to 10–13 m (10–4 nm).
 One common way to generate X-rays is to bombard a
metal target by high energy electrons.
 X-rays are used as a diagnostic tool in medicine and as a
treatment for certain forms of cancer.
 Because X-rays damage or destroy living tissues and
organisms, care must be taken to avoid unnecessary or
over exposure. 56
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X-RAY IMAGING
X-Rays:
These rays have enough energy to penetrate deep
into tissues and cause damage to cells; are stopped
by dense materials, such as bone.
Used to look at solid structures, such as bones and

bridges (for cracks), and for treatment of cancer.
GAMMA RAYS
 They lie in the upper frequency range of the
electromagnetic spectrum and have wavelengths of from
about 10–10m to less than 10–14m

 This high frequency radiation is produced in nuclear
reactions and also emitted by radioactive nuclei.
 They are used in medicine to destroy cancer cells.
 As mentioned earlier, the demarcation between different

region is not sharp and there are over laps.
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TREATMENT OF CANCER- GAMMA RAYS
MRI scan is used to obtain images of internal parts of our body.
Main Purpose of MRI SCAN: used to detect cancerous tissue.

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Gamma Rays
This picture is a
“scintigram” 
It shows an asthmatic
person’s lungs.
The patient was given a slightly radioactive gas to breath, and

the picture was taken using a gamma camera to detect the
radiation.
The colors show the air flow in the lungs.
Gamma rays are released by nuclear reactions in nuclear power
plants, by nuclear bombs, and by naturally occurring elements
on Earth.
PROBLEMS
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QUESTION 2

2.In an electromagnetic wave in free space the
root mean square value of the electric field is
Erms = 6V/m. The peak value of the magnetic
field is :-

NEET 2017 65
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HINT
The peak value of the magnetic field is
ANSWER

QUESTION 3
 3. Out
of the following options which one can be used to
produce a propagating electromagnetic wave?
 (a) A chargeless particle
 (b) An accelerating charge

 (c) A charge moving at constant velocity
 (d) A stationary charge
NEET 2016
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ANSWER:

 Charge at rest- has electric field in the region around it but
no magnetic field.
 Moving charge- Produces both electric and magnetic fields.
 If a charge is moving with constant velocity, electric and

magnetic field will not change with time.(no Em wave)

 If a charge is moving with non zero
acceleration(accelerating charge), both elecrric and
magnetic field will change with space and time, it produces
an electromagnetic wave.
 So an accelerating charge is used to produce oscillating

electric and magnetic fields, hence the electromagnetic
wave.
 Correct option (b) An accelerating charge 68
QUESTION 4
 The electric field part of an electromagnetic wave in a medium is
represented by Ex = 0;

 (a) moving along x direction with frequency 106 Hz and wavelength 100 m.
 (b) moving along x direction with frequency 105 Hz and wavelength 200 m.
 (c) moving along -x direction with frequency 106 Hz and wavelength 200 m.
 (d) moving along y direction with frequency 2π x 106 Hz and wavelength
200 m.
 NEET 2015
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ANSWER:

The wave is moving in the positive direction
of x.
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ANSWER

Correct option (b) moving along x direction with
frequency 10^6Hz and wavelength 200 m.
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Electromagnetic Waves

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Tuesday, December 6, 2022 Dr GSK - Department of Physics

NOT A SOURCE OF EM WAVES:

 stationary charges produces only electrostatic fields,

Dr GSK - Department of Physics

Dr GSK - Department of Physics

Dr GSK - Department of Physics

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Dr GSK - Department of Physics

Dr GSK - Department of Physics

Maxwell: Mother of EM Waves

Modification to Ampere Circuital Law

Inconsistency in Ampere’s Law

Magnetic needle deflect near wire carrying current

No Charge Particles between plates of capacitor, so according

Consider a Capacitor connected to AC supply

Capacitor stores charge on plates which creates continuously

Electric Field give rise to changing Electric Flux or electrical

Change of Electric Flux w.r.t.

Presence of Electric Field

 Gauss Law of Magnetostatics

Time Varying Electric Field generates Magnetic field even in

Last two equations gives prediction of Electromagnetic

Induced Electric and Magnetic field oppose the flux producing

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Dr GSK - Department of Physics

Dr GSK - Department of Physics

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Dr GSK - Department of Physics

 Higher frequencies upto 54 MHz are used for short wave

Dr GSK - Department of Physics

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Dr GSK - Department of Physics

Dr GSK - Department of Physics

Dr GSK - Department of Physics

Dr GSK - Department of Physics

 Used for finding people in the dark and in TV

Dr GSK - Department of Physics

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Dr GSK - Department of Physics

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Dr GSK - Department of Physics

Dr GSK - Department of Physics

 Ozone layer in the atmosphere plays a protective role,

Although we cannot see UV light, bees, bats, butterflies, some

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Dr GSK - Department of Physics

Used to look at solid structures, such as bones and

Dr GSK - Department of Physics

 As mentioned earlier, the demarcation between different

MRI scan is used to obtain images of internal parts of our body.

Main Purpose of MRI SCAN: used to detect cancerous tissue.

The patient was given a slightly radioactive gas to breath, and

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Dr GSK - Department of Physics

 (b) An accelerating charge

Dr GSK - Department of Physics

 (d) A stationary charge

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

 If a charge is moving with constant velocity, electric and

Dr GSK - Department of Physics

 So an accelerating charge is used to produce oscillating

Dr GSK - Department of Physics

Tuesday, December 6, 2022