EM WAVES

Lecture Notes
Units: Electric field (N/C) or (Volt/m)
Magnetic field (Tesla) or (Wb/m2)

ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
Radio, TV, radar waves, infrared, light, ultraviolet
rays, X-rays, gamma rays are all electromagnetic
waves

2. Properties
All EM waves propagate with the same speed in
vacuum:
c = 3 x 108 m/s..
For all EM waves c = f ..
So: Higher freq. means shorter far all EM waves
EM waves do not require a medium
All EM waves have the same structure. They are
given different names according to their:
i. Frequency (or )
ii. Source or production method
iii. Effects and usage
3. Structure
All EM waves consist
of E and B fields
oscillating in phase
E field, B field and c
are always perpendicular

0 0

Intensity of EM waves is proportional to

I E2 or I B2
An ordered array of the EM waves is called the
Electromagnetic Spectrum
3. Electromagnetic Spectrum

1 km

Micro waves

Long wave

Radio waves

103

105
Radio

107

1nm 1A

109

Radar

1011

X-Rays

Light

Infrared

Km-30cm 30cm-1mm

1013

Gamma rays

UV

1015

1017

1019

1021

f (Hz)

Infrared

Light

UV

X-Rays

Gamma

1mm7x10-7m

7x10-7m4 x10-7m

4x10-7m6x10-10m

10-8m10-10m

10-10m10-14m

Source

1 m

1 m 1 cm

Accelerating charges in Hot bodies, Very hot

Sun,
Fast
Radioactive
antennas by electronic molecules objects,
Electric
electrons
nuclei
devices
Discharge discharge
hitting
tube
metal target
Electrons in atom

Usage

[0 and 0 are constants from electricity and

magnetism]
So for the first time EM wave was defined and it was
proven that light is a form of EM wave.

Sebat Kyrgyz Turkish High Schools

1. Source and generation

All EM waves are produced by accelerating charges
Demo: Field from accelerating charge (Phy Java App)
Formulas are:
Changing magnetic field produces electric field

( E l )around a loop = B (Faraday's law)

t
Changing electric field produce magnetic field

( Bl )around a loop = 0 0 E (Ampere's law)

t
Combining these two equations mathematically
Maxwell predicted that:
Electric and magnetic fields can propagate (in
vacuum) {Maxwell did not predict vacuum
propagation, he assumed ether} oscillating and
producing each other. This moving oscillating fields
form EM waves. Mathematically speed of these waves
must be given by:
1
= 3 x 108 m/s
v=
0 0

Speed of EM waves given by: c =

Communic Also called

Heats
ation
microwave. objects,
Communic Physical
ation,
therapy,
cooking Photograph

Visible

Disinfect,
Suntan

Medicine Kill people,

Cancer treat

Harmful for life

[We will learn about radio and radar waves now, infrared,
light, UV in the following chapter Bohrs atom, X-rays in
chapter Mot.of char. part., and gamma rays in chapter
nucleus completing the series]

4. Radio Waves from an Antenna

An antenna is any long conductor along which charges
can accelerate
Electric field component:
Old field

Electronic
device

E
Thumb-RH

Half period later

c
B

c
B
Demo: EM waves 1,2 (Phy Java App)
Magnitudes of E and B are always related by:
E = c B..

Class demo: Rub a plastic pen to your hair and shake

your hand holding the pen. You are producing EM
waves approx. 5 Hz. We need an electronic circuit
1

EM WAVES

Lecture Notes

which will shake charges (change polarity) -say- at

1000 Hz for radio waves.

qmax

Magnetic field component:

I=0
C

v=0

-xmax

xmax

q=0

Imax
C

vmax

i
-xmax

qmax

xmax

I=0
C

v=0

L
-xmax

xmax

Since no heat loss (resistance=0 or friction=0 ) motion

repeats itself.

5. LC oscillations
Three circuit elements:
L

Unit

Ohm ()

Henry (H)

Farad (F)

Potential

IR

L I/T

Q/C

stores energy

stores energy

LI2

Q2/C

Function turn el en to heat

I2Rt

Energy

Sebat Kyrgyz Turkish High Schools

[So: The news of the change in the source travels at

the speed of light.]
[Now we need the electronic circuit which will
oscillate the charges in the antenna at high frequency]

q=0

q
-xmax

Sine function
Starts from zero
y (t) =A Sin(t)

xmax
..q(t) = Qm Cos(t)..
dq
i (t) =
dt
..i(t) = -Im Sin(t)..
where Im=qm

y
A

t
-A

xmax

Cosine function
Starts from maximum
y (t) =A Cos(t)

vmax

y
A

t
-A

-xmax

dy
=- aym Sin(ax)]
dx
Note: Qm= maximum value, q(t) = instantaneous value.
Note: Generally we show constants by capital letter,
and variables (functions of time) by small letters.

v=0

Imax
C

x (t)

[Just like if y=ymCos(ax) than

I=0

-xmax

6. Oscillation Equations

Analogy between electric and mechanical oscillations:

{Explain the energy sharing each step}

Electric
q
I
L
1/C

x(t) = xm Cos(t)
dx
v=
dt
v(t) = vm Sin(t)

[What will happen to the energy

in capacitor when switch is
closed?] {No formulas. Just
C
qualitative description and I-t
graph}

qmax

Mechanical
x
v
m
k

xmax
2

EM WAVES

Lecture Notes

Note: If an oscillation starts from maximum, we use

sinus. If starts from zero, we use sinus.

7. Conservation of Energy
Since R=0 Total energy = const.
{Actually energy decreases due to emission of EM
waves}
q = qm i(t) = 0
i = Im q(t) = 0

Ex: What are the formulas of energy of capacitor and

inductor? Find from analogy.
Ex: What formula gives the frequency of electric
oscillations? Find from analogy. {First then f}
Ans:
m
T=2 LC
T=2
k
2
but =
= 2 f
T

Therefore we can write:

1 Q 2m
1
1 q2 1 2
= LI 2m =
+ Li
2 C
2
2C 2
Ex: In LC oscillations max energy in capacitor is 20J.
Find
a) max energy in inductor
b) Total enregy in circuit

Therefore :
=

1
LC

f=

Ex: Find Im=? in the circuit

2 LC

{Use both methods}

Ex: A circuit consist of a 1F capacitor and 1H

inductor. Find frequency and cyclic frequency of
oscillations.
Ex: Charge oscillates in an LC circuit by:
q(t) = 0.1 Cos (200t) [In coulombs]
Find
a) Maximum charge on capacitor.
b) =?, f =?
c) What are initial charge and current (at t=0)?
Take =3.

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Note: is called cyclic frequency.

Note: The frequency (f) is the natural frequency of
oscillations for LC circuit. [Which means it occurs
naturally without any external driving agent] Actually
any oscillating system has a natural frequency.
rad 1
Unit:
= = Hz
sec s
[Because radian does not have physical dimension. It is
just a proportion. We write it there not to leave the
nominator empty]

40 F

0.1 H

Ex: Maximum values of charge and current are

measured as Qm=10-6 C and Im=2mA in an ideal LC
circuit. Find frequency of oscillations.
{Use both methods}
s
Ex: A real electric circuit
always has some resistance.
L
Explain how , f, Im, Qm
C
change with time.
{Draw q-t and i-t graphs}
R
Ex: A 10 F capacitor is charged up to 100 V potential
and connected to an inductor. Maximum potential
decreases in time due to resistance. Find heat produced
until Um=20V. {Draw u - t graph}

Ex: Describe how energy is shared in an LC circuit at

t=T/8 after the capacitor starts to discharge.
8. Principles of Radio Communication
Rule: Oscillating (accelerating) charges in an LC
circuit produce EM waves. Frequency of produced EM
waves is equal to frequency of oscillatoions.
Electronic circuits produce EM waves having
frequency in radio and microwaves (radar) range.
[Higher frequency (or shorter wavelength) cant be
produced by means of electronic devices because there
are limitations to how small a capacitor or an inductor
can be]
All radio transmitters [radio stations] and receivers
[radios] are actually oscillating LC circuits.

Ex: Frequency of oscillations decreases by a factor 3 in

an LC circuit when capacitance is increased by 0.08f.
Find initial capacitance. Given L=const.
s
q=0.5 C
40 F

q=0.5 C

Ex: 2 F capacitor is charged up to 100 V potential

and connected to an 0.5 H inductor. Find potential
across the capacitor at t=0.02 s after the capacitor
starts to discharge.

Ex: Charge oscillates in an LC circuit by the equation:

q(t) = 0.4 Cos (300t) [In coulombs]
a) Find qm=? Im=?
b) Write oscillation formula for current i(t)=?
c) Write oscillation formula for potential accros
capacitor if C= 50 F, U(t)=? {Draw garphs}

Ex: Switch is closed at

t=0. Write q(t) and i(t).

0.1 H

EM WAVES

Lecture Notes
sound microphone electric current

LC circuit Radio waves LC circuit

electric current speaker sound
Ex: A radio receiver circuit has inductance L=0.5H.
To what value must the capacitance be adjusted to
listen to a station broadcasting at 100 MHz?

9. Intensity of EM Waves
Power
Watt
Intensity ( I ) =
2
Area
m

receiver
transmitter
=

1
1
2 LC

c
= 2 c LC
f

Resonance:
1
2 LC

is called the natural frequency

of LC circuit.
When frequency of received EM waves equals natural
frequency of radio receiver, resonance occurs.
Resonance fnatural=fEM waves
Waves from many transmitters reach the radio antenna
all together. But only the wave of resonance frequency
is amplified.
[When we turn the knob on the radio actually we are
changing the nayural frequency by changing the
capacitance of the capacitor of LC circuit. So we can
choose the frequency we want to listen]

Sebat Kyrgyz Turkish High Schools

The value f =

I ~ E 2 or B2
[Electric field amplitude is proportional to acceleration
of charges at the source. Since a=2Acos(t) we see:
a 2 ]
Therefore:
I 4 or I f 4

LC

f wave = f transmitter =
=

I ( Amplitude )

F=qE

radio antenna
[So the motion of charges in the transmitter antenna is
duplicated by the charges in the receiving antenna]

Energy density (u):

Energy
Joule
u=

volume
m3
Ex (HW):
Show that
Intensity = spreed x energy density
I=cu
{this is correct for any type of flow}
[Extra: Half of energy of EM waves carried by electric
field component and half carried by magnetic field
component
1
1 2
uE = 0 E 2 and uB =
B
2
20
also uE = uB
B2
]
and uEMwave= uE+uB = 0 E 2 =
0