Experimenting Electromagnetic Waves pt2 IM 01 19 21

Electromagnetic Spectrum
Experimenting with Electromagnetic Waves

(Part 2)
LLNL-PRES-818505 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Distance Learning

Example Data
for
Parts 3 and 4
Video of a Direct TV Remote
using the Front-Facing Camera of an iPhone 8
The flashes
of infrared
light are not
visible to the
human eye
when looking
at remote.
Observation of a Direct TV Remote
Single frame from the Zoom in on one of the

previous video infrared light sources.
What color does the camera algorithm
calculate from the sensor signal?
We can estimate the relative signal measured in

the red, blue and green channels by matching the
color determined by the camera to the simulated
color to the right.
using the Back-Facing Camera of an iPhone 8
The infrared light is

not observed by the
back facing camera.
The infrared light is
absorbed by a filter
placed in front of
the image sensor.
using Front Facing Camera of Samsung Galaxy Note9
using the Back-Facing Camera of a Samsung Galaxy Note9
Video of a Sony TV Remote
The flashes
of infrared
light are not
visible the
human eye
when looking
at remote.
Video of a Sony TV Remote
Dark
Room
Extend Your Thinking
Tetrachromacy
Many Birds, Fish and Reptiles have Four Color Cone Types
Multispectral Imaging • The sensors in your phone
includes three types of
colored filters which allows
the sensors to reproduce
images similar to what we
observe with our eyes.
• Consider an image sensors

that made use of a wider
range of filters and detected
wavelengths outside the
range of human vision, such
as show in the figure.
How might you use such an

image sensor?
Experiment 6
Investigating Illuminance as Function of Distance from Light
Source
Experiment 6
Illuminance as Function of Distance from Light Source
1. Measure intensity as a function of distance from a light source.
a. Use the “white” light emitting diode (“flashlight”) on a phone as the light source
b. Design an experiment that allows you to use the light sensor on your phone to
measure the light intensity as a function of distance from the light source
i. Minimize light from all other sources
ii. Avoid the light sensor from seeing reflections – you want to only see light rays
that are coming directly from the source
iii. Measure the intensity over a range of distances (less than 1 meter). It will be
difficult to accurately measure the intensity at distance closer than 15
centimeters (although you can try and see what happens)
2. Plot the intensity as a function of time and indicate the distance for each
measurement.
3. Plot the intensity vs distance and fit the data to a power law relationship.
4. Plot the intensity vs 1/(distance)2.
a. Discuss your findings and how well your data supports the anticipated 1/r2
dependence of intensity vs distance
Experimental Design • Use a very dark room to
eliminate light not from the
source of interest
• Stay away from any objects that

might produce reflections of the
flashlight (carpet is best to
minimize reflections from floor)
• Rest phone #1 upright and

balanced against a wall
• Move phone #2 incrementally to

new positions at known
distances while maintaining a
constant perpendicular
orientation to the floor
Light Sensor Available on Android Phones
Example Data and Analysis
Illuminance as Function of Distance
1,200
0.15 m The sensor is moved incrementally further
1,000
away from the light source and held at the
distance, r, as indicated for 5-10 seconds.
Illuminance (lx)
800
0.20 m
r
600
0.25 m
400
0.30 m
0.40 m
200
0.50 m
0.60 m 0.70 m 0.80 m
0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Time (s)
Illuminance as Function of Distance (expanded scale)
250
The sensor is moved incrementally further
away from the light source and held at the
200 0.40 m distance, r, as indicated for 5-10 seconds.
Illuminance (lx)
150
0.50 m
r
100
0.60 m
0.70 m
0.80 m
50
Luminosity sensor data is only recorded when the sensor
observes a “significant” change, so measurements are not
0 recorded at constant time intervals at lower intensities.
45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85
Time (s)
Data Determined by Averaging Data from Previous Graph
Distance (m) Illumination (lx)

0.15 1064
0.20 667
0.25 454
0.30 333
0.40 191
0.50 122
0.60 83
0.70 63
0.80 50
Illuminance vs Distance
1200
f(x) = 33.2927730354305 x^-1.86213744371271

1000 r
Illuminance (lx)
800
Consistent with our
600 expectation:
400
y = kx-2
200
0
0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50 0.60 0.70 0.80 0.90
Distance from Source (m)

Data Determined by Averaging Data from Previous Graph
1/(Distance)2 (m-2) Illumination (lx)

44.4 1064
25.0 667
16.0 454
11.1 333
6.3 191
4.0 122
2.8 83
2.0 63
1.6 50
Illuminance vs 1/r2
1200
R² = 0.99355935215679
1000 r
Illuminance (lx)
800
600
Linear Fit Demonstrates:
400 1
𝐼∝ 2
𝑟
200
0
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
1/(Distance from the Source )2 (m-2)

Experiment 7
Exploring the Polarization of Light
Experiment 7
Exploring the Polarization of Light
1. Using a piece of polaroid film, observe the polarization of
sunlight reflected from a plant or flower.
a. Video the plant or flower through the polaroid film as you rotate it
and note any changes in intensity that you observe
2. Using a similar method, observe the polarization of light from
multiple different electronic displays (e.g., phones, computer,
TV, calculators, …).
3. Using a similar method, observe light that is scattered off a
smooth surface that we would characterize as “glare”.
4. Using a similar method, observe a blue sky.
Example Data
Outdoor Sun Illumination of Plant
Unpolarized Light
Sony TV: LCD
Highly Polarized Light
HP Elitebook: LCD Display
iPAD Pro: LCD with LED Backlighting
Limited Polarization of Light
Samsung Galaxy Note9: AMOLED Display
Polarization by Reflection from Surface
Unpolarized Polarized
Incident Light Reflected Light
Polarization by Reflection from Surface
Polarization by Scattering
Experiment 8
Investigating Spectral Properties using a Transmission Diffraction
Grating
Experiment 8
Investigating Spectral Properties using a
Transmission Diffraction Grating
1. View a variety of light sources through a transmission grating and
document the observed spectral properties by taking a picture with your
phone camera.
a. Incandescent light sources
b. Fluorescence light sources
c. LED light source (including your phone or computer display)
d. Other interesting objects (candle flame, lighting displays, …)
2. Discuss the differences you observe in the spectral properties of the
various light sources.
3. Create an image on your phone or computer to make an interesting image
or video when viewed through the transmission diffraction grating.
Example Transmission Grating
Example Data
Incandescent Light Source
Current Heats Filament to >2000K
Hot Filament Acts as a Blackbody Radiator
Continuous Emission Spectrum Produced by
Blackbody Radiator
500 Lines/mm Transmission Grating
Continuous Emission Spectrum Produced by
Blackbody Radiator
Image of tree
lights through
a 500 lines/mm
transmission
grating
Incandescent Lightbulb Spectrum
Compact Fluorescent Light Spectrum
“White” Light Source on HP Elitebook Computer Display
“White” Light Source on HP Elitebook Computer Display
Expanded View
Clear Spectral
Differentiation of the Red,
Green, and Blue Pixels.
“White” Light Source on Samsung Galaxy Note9
“White” Light Source on Samsung Galaxy Note9
AMOLED Display
“White” Light Source on iPhone 8
Clear Differences in the RGB

Emission Spectra are Observed
“White” Light Source on iPhone 8
Image Captured with iPhone7
Diffraction from “White” Light Source on HP Elitebook
Diffraction from “Red” Light Source on HP Elitebook
Diffraction from “Green” Light Source on HP Elitebook
Diffraction from “Blue” Light Source on HP Elitebook
Exploring Diffraction
from Light Sources with
Shapes
Exploring Diffraction from Light
Sources with Shapes
Observation of a Dynamic Flame
500 line/mm Diffraction Grating
Observation of a Dynamic Flame
500 line/mm Diffraction Grating
Experiment 9
Reflectance Spectroscopy
Experiment 9
Explore Absorption Properties of Your Finger:
Measure Your Pulse using Photoplethysmography
1. Place your finger over the flashlight of your camera and observer the
light that is scattered from the tissue and is transmitted through your
finger.
a. Describe your observation and develop a potential explanation
2. Measure your heartrate using the free application: Heart Rate Free.
a. Take a picture of the data and develop a potential explanation of periodic signal
that is displayed
3. Use your camera and flash to collect a video that captures the scattered
light from your finger.
a. Analyze the video using the free “Tracker” software or your favorite video
analysis software
b. Create a plot of the scattered intensity vs time and determine your heartrate
Absorption Properties of a Human Finger
Phototherapeutic “Window” of Transmission
Penetration Depth of Visible Light in Skin
Photoplethysmography
Example Data
White Light Transmitted through Finger
• Green and Blue Light is Absorbed
• Red Light is Preferentially Transmitted and Scattered
Heart Rate Free - Application
Heart Rate Free – Application
Example Data
Video of the
Reflected Light
Scattered from
Finger While
Illuminated with
White Light from
Flash
https://physlets.org/tracker/
Create RGB Region
Integrates Intensity for each Frame of Video in Selected Location
Analyze Video
Export Data
RGB Intensity Observed on iPhone 8 Camera
from White Light Scatter from Fingertip
200
Red Green Blue
Relative RBG Intensities
150
100
50
0
0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00 14.00
Time (s)
Red Pixel Intensity Observed on iPhone 8 Camera
from White Light Scatter Scattering from Fingertip
145
144
143
Relative Red Intensity
142
141
140
139
138
137
Red
136
135
2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00 4.50 5.00
Time (s)
Red Pixel Intensity Observed on iPhone 8 Camera
from White Light Scatter Scattering from Fingertip
150
148 s
146
Relative Red Intensity
144
142
140
138
136
134
Red 7 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑠 60 𝑠
132 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒= 𝑥 =66 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑠/𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒
6.33 𝑠 1𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒
130
0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00 8.00
Time (s)
Second Experiment Video of the Reflected Light Scattered
from Finger While Illuminated with White Light from Flash
Data Set #2: Analysis using Tracker Software
170
165
Observation of Skipped
160 Heartbeat (felt by patient
Relative Intensity (a.u.)
and confirmed by analysis)

155
150
145
140
135
130
125
120
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0
Time (s)
155
Observation of Skipped Heartbeat

150
Relative Intensity (a.u.)
145
140
135
130
125
25.0 26.0 27.0 28.0 29.0 30.0 31.0 32.0
Time (s)
Experiment 10
Wireless Networks and Properties of
Microwaves
Experiment 10
Wireless Networks and Properties of Microwaves
1. Use a network analyzer application to find local networks.

a. Explore at least two different locations for networks
b. Using the internet, research what frequencies are used in wireless
networks, what do the different channels mean and what is the common
unit used for measuring the power of a microwave signal – dBm
Experiment 10
2. Investigate the properties of microwaves using a variety of network
analysis applications.
a. Measure the microwave signal in your home as you walk between locations that
are far away and close to your router
b. Establish a method to qualitatively measure the attenuation of microwaves using
your phone and the router used in a wireless network. Measure this for multiple
materials such as wood, plastic, carboard, aluminum foil, glass, or any other
common materials
c. Measure the attenuation of microwaves when you enclose your phone in various
“boxes”. These might include your refrigerator, a toolbox, microwave oven,
convection oven, …
d. Design an experiment that might be useful to determine if the attenuation of
microwaves was due to absorption or reflection. Conduct the experiment
e. Demonstrate the use of a wire grid polarizer to attenuate microwave transmission.
This polarizer can be the removable shelves in your oven, a cookie cooling rack, or
other object with a similar structure
Experiment 10
3. Use a network analysis application to detect the number and type of

devices connected to a wireless network.
Example Data
Part 1
Wireless Communications
Long-range and high-speed Wireless networks use

connections to the internet are made a router to transmit and
via electrical or optical connections. receive information from
devices using
microwave frequencies
( 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz)
Wavelength of Microwaves used in
Wi-Fi Communications
2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz
𝑐 3.0 𝑥 108 𝑚 𝑠 −1 100 𝑐𝑚

𝜆= = =0.12 𝑚 𝑥 =12 𝑐𝑚
𝜔 𝟐 . 𝟒 𝒙 𝟏𝟎 𝒔𝟗 −𝟏
𝑚
𝑐 3.0 𝑥 108 𝑚 𝑠 −1 100 𝑐𝑚

𝜆= = =0.060 𝑚 𝑥 =6.0 𝑐𝑚
𝜔 𝟓 . 𝟎 𝒙 𝟏𝟎 𝒔
𝟗 −𝟏
𝑚
Microwaves have long wavelengths relative to visible light.

Green light has a wavelength of 550 nm  0.000055 cm.
Looking Inside Wireless Communications
Router and Antenna used to Transmit Microelectronics to

and Receive Microwave Frequencies Communicate with Router
Units for Signal Strength – dBm
Logarithmic Scale
dBm = 10 log10 (power in milliwatts)
• 0 dBm = 1 milliwatt
• 10 dB of loss = -10 dB  10 times less signal strength
(0.1 mW = -10 dBm, 0.01 mW = -20 dBm, etc.)
• 10 dB of gain = +10 dB  10 times more signal strength
(0.00001 mW = -50 dBm, 0.0001 mW = -40 dBm, etc.)
• 3 dB of loss = -3 dB  halves signal strength
• 3 dB of gain = +3 dB  doubles signal strength
Example Data
Part 2
WiFi Analyzer
Android Application for
Measuring Signal Strength
of Networks
NetSpot
of Networks
Speedtest
IOS and Android
Application for Measuring
Download and Upload
Speeds
Wi-Fi Signals
Distributed
Across Channels
near 2.4 GHz
Measurement in
Downtown
Shopping Area
Wi-Fi Signals
Distributed
Across Channels
near 5.0 GHz
Measurement in
Downtown
Shopping Area
Wi-Fi Signals
Measurement of Wi-Fi Signals from Multiple
Closely Located Homes
Distance from Router: 20 m

Rakestraw CASA
Trial Ping Download Upload

(ms) (Mbps) (Mbps)
1 3 34 10
2 4 38 7
3 6 56 13
Average 4 43 10
Wi-Fi Signals
Measurement of Wi-Fi Signals from Multiple
Closely Located Homes
Distance from Router: 1 m

Rakestraw CASA
Trial Ping Download Upload

(ms) (Mbps) (Mbps)
1 4 83 10
2 3 64 12
3 5 78 11
Average 4 73 11
IOS Application to Measure Wi-Fi Signal Strength
Measures Continuously on All Available Networks
AirPort Utility
AirPort Utility
1. Start scan
2. Signal strength recorded for
all networks every few
seconds
3. Stop scan
4. Select network of interest
5. The signal strength as a
function of time is available
for analysis
Microwave Signal @ 2.4 GHz
Phone Movement Toward Router From Furthest Location in Home
0
2.4 GHz
-10 Moving
-20 average
Microwave Signal (dBm)
(2.4 GHz)
-30
-40
-50
-60
-70
-80
-90
0 25 50 75 100 125 150
Solid line is a 2-point moving average.
Time (s)
Microwave Signal @ 5 GHz
0
5.0 GHz
-10 Moving
-20 average
(5.0 GHz)
-30
-40
-50
-60
-70 Change to Direct Line
-80 of Sight between
Phone and Router
-90
0 25 50 75 100 125 150
Time (s)
Microwave Signal: Comparison 2.4 GHz vs 5.0 GHz
0
2.4 GHz
-10 Moving
-20 average
(2.4 GHz)
-30
-40
-50
-60
-70
-80
-90
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Time (s)
Microwave Attenuation
Evaluation of Different Materials
Experimental Design Geometry used in the
experiments that follow.
• 2 meters separation
between phone and router
• Attenuating materials
placed close to the phone
• Reflections expected but all

other variables held
relatively constant including
position of the person
putting the materials in
front of the phone
Materials for Microwave Attenuation Experiments
1 Sheet of
Cardboard Aluminum Foil
40 cm x 50 cm
0.5 cm (0.003 cm) on
Carboard
Plastic
Aluminum
Cutting Board
Pan (0. 3 cm)
1 cm
Microwaves at 2.4 GHz Attenuation by:
Cardboard (0.5 cm thick)
-15
Cardboard -
Attenuating material in place. Transparent to
Signal @ 2.4 GHz (dBm)
-25 microwaves.
-35
-45
-55 Red line is a 2-point moving average.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Time (s)
1 -15
Sheet of Aluminum Foil (0.003 cm) on Cardboard
Aluminum Foil -
Highly attenuating
Attenuating material in place.
to microwaves.
-25
-35
-45
Red line is a 2-point moving average.

-55
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Time (s)
Aluminum Pan (0.3 cm thick)
-15
Aluminum Foil -
Highly attenuating
to microwaves.
-25
-35
-45

-55
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Time (s)
Plastic (1 cm thick) Cutting Board
-15
Plastic -
Transparent to
-25 microwaves.
-35
-45

-55
0 20 40 60 80 100
Time (s)
Human Body – Chest in Front of Phone
-15
Human Body-
Attenuating material in place. Partially attenuating
-25 to microwaves.
-35
-45

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Time (s)
Netalyzer
of Networks
Aluminum Foil – in Front of Phone

Microwaves at 2.4 GHz Attenuation
Phone Inside of Refrigerator
Phone in Refrigerator Phone in Refrigerator

Door Open. Door Open.
Phone in Refrigerator - Door Closed.

Microwaves at 2.4 GHz Attenuation
Phone Inside of Microwave Oven
Microwave Door Closed.
Door Open. Door Open.

Possible Contributions to Attenuation
The next experiment aims to support the conclusion that a significant

amount of the microwave radiation is reflected from the aluminum.
Microwaves at 2.4 GHz Reflection by:
Aluminum Pan
-15
Aluminum – Highly
reflective of
-25 microwaves (not

absorption)
-35
-45 Reflecting material in place.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Time (s)
Polarization Filter
Wire Grid Polarizer
Wire Grid Polarizer
Grid Perpendicular to Grid Parallel to

Microwave Polarization Microwave Polarization
Microwave Filter @ 2.4 GHz
0
No Filter No Filter
-10
Signal Intensity (dBm)
-20
-30

-40
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Time (s)
Example Data
Part 3
What is connected to your network?
Network Analyzer
Application
Available on both IOS and Android
Example of
Devices Connected
to a Local Area
Network
Artist Nickolay Lamm
What if you could see Wi-Fi?
Let Me
K n ow
I welcome any
feedback on errors
you might find or ideas
on how to improve this
for students and
teachers.
Prepared by:
David Rakestraw
Senior Scientist
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
rakestraw1@llnl.gov • 925-216-8106 • st.llnl.gov
127
This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.

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Electromagnetic Spectrum

Experimenting with Electromagnetic Waves

LLNL-PRES-818505 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Distance Learning

Single frame from the Zoom in on one of the

We can estimate the relative signal measured in

The infrared light is

• Consider an image sensors

How might you use such an

• Stay away from any objects that

• Rest phone #1 upright and

• Move phone #2 incrementally to

Distance (m) Illumination (lx)

f(x) = 33.2927730354305 x^-1.86213744371271

Distance from Source (m)

1/(Distance)2 (m-2) Illumination (lx)

1/(Distance from the Source )2 (m-2)

Clear Differences in the RGB

and confirmed by analysis)

Observation of Skipped Heartbeat

1. Use a network analyzer application to find local networks.

3. Use a network analysis application to detect the number and type of

Long-range and high-speed Wireless networks use

𝑐 3.0 𝑥 108 𝑚 𝑠 −1 100 𝑐𝑚

𝑐 3.0 𝑥 108 𝑚 𝑠 −1 100 𝑐𝑚

Microwaves have long wavelengths relative to visible light.

Router and Antenna used to Transmit Microelectronics to

Distance from Router: 20 m

Trial Ping Download Upload

Distance from Router: 1 m

Trial Ping Download Upload

• Reflections expected but all

-55 Red line is a 2-point moving average.

Red line is a 2-point moving average.

Red line is a 2-point moving average.

Red line is a 2-point moving average.

-55 Red line is a 2-point moving average.

Attenuating material in place.

Phone in Refrigerator Phone in Refrigerator

Phone in Refrigerator - Door Closed.

Microwave Door Closed.

Door Open. Door Open.

The next experiment aims to support the conclusion that a significant

-25 microwaves (not

-45 Reflecting material in place.

-55 Red line is a 2-point moving average.

Grid Perpendicular to Grid Parallel to

Red line is a 2-point moving average.

rakestraw1@llnl.gov • 925-216-8106 • st.llnl.gov

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