E.

M WAVES

Displacement Current (or Maxwells Displacement Current)

The complete definition of current is this : An electric current is that which produces magnetic field.
When capacitor is being charged, the charge on the capacitor plates increases and there is changing electric
field in the space between the plates of capacitor. The changing electric field between the plates of capacitor
produces magnetic field so it is equivalent to electric current. This is called displacement current ID .
Although the changing electric field is not an electric current but it has same effect in producing magnetic
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field. For this reason, Maxwell called the terrm 0 the displacement current.
dt
dE
It is given by ID 0 .................................................(i)
dt
dE
= time rate of change of electric flux between the plates of capacitor
dt

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If steady current flows in the circuit then displacement current is equal to conduction current.i.e ID=IC

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E.M WAVES-

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Electromagnetic wave is a wave in which electric and magnetic fields are perpendicular to each other and
also perpendicular to the direction of propagation of wave.
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Maxwell combined the laws of electricity and magnetism to give the theory of e.m waves. According
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to him, accelerated electric charges, such as oscillatory charges, produce e.m waves. Maxwell was
the first to pridict E.M wave.
Ampere-Maxwells Circuital law-
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Maxwell explained that Amperes law is valid only for steady current or when electric field does not change
with time. Maxwell assumed that some sort of current must be flowing between the capacitor plates during
charging prosses. This current is named as displacement current id .
Hence modified Amperes circuital law or Ampere-Maxwells circuital law is as follows

B. dl i0 c id
d E
or B. dl 0 ic 0
dt
from (i)

ic = conduction current i.e current due to flow of charge in the conductor

dE
id=displacement current i.e current due to changing electric field between the plates of capacitor = 0
dt

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Maxwells Equations-
The four complete laws of electromagnetism are known as Maxwells equations.These are|
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(i) E. dS 0 ................................. Gausss law in electrostatics

(ii) B. dS 0 ......................... Gausss law in magnetism
d B
(iii) E. dl dt
............................... Faradays law of e.m.i

d
B. dl 0 ic 0 dt ..................... Ampere-maxwells law
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(iv)

Hertz actully produced e.m waves (first time) with the help of oscillating electrical circuits. He also

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detected those waves with the help of other circuits. Hertz produced and detected E.M waves

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experimentally at wavelengths 6 m.
HERTZS EXPERIMANTAL SETUP

waves continuously.
In the figure-
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Hertzs experiment is based on the fact that oscillating charge is accelerating continuously, it will radiate E.M
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(i) The metallic plates (P1 &P2) act as a capacitor.
(ii) The wires connecting spheres S1 & S2 to plates
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provide a low inductance.

When a high voltage is applied across metallic plates,
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these plates get discharged by sparking across the

narrow gap. The spark will give rise to oscillation
which in turn send out electromagnetic waves.The succession of sparks send out a train of such waves
which are received by receiver.
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Frequency of these waves is given by

2 LC
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J.C Bose produced E.M waves of wavelength ranging from 5mm to 25 mm.

QUESTIONS-
Q-1 Calculate the displacement current between the square plates 1 cm on a side of parallel plate capacitor
if electric field between the plates is changing at the rate of 3 10 6 V/ms. {Ans- 2.7 10 9 A }
Q-2 A capacitor is made of two circular plates each of radius 12 cm and separated by 5 mm. the capacitor
is being charged by an external source. The charging current is constant and equal to 0.15 A.calculate
(i) the capacitance of capacitor (ii) the rate of change of potential diffrence b/w plates of capacitor.
(iii) displacement current b/w the plates. (iv) is Kirchhoffs valid at each plate of the capacitor?
Q-3 You are given a 1 F parallel plate capacitor. How would you establish an instantaneous displacement
current of 1 A in the space b/w the plates of the capacitor ? [dV/dt = 106 Volt /s]
Q-4 A parallel plate capacitor has circular plates, each of radius 5 cm. It is being charged so that electric
field in the gap b/w the plates rises steadily at the rate of 1012 V/m/s.What is the displacement current?
[Ans- 0.069]

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Common Properties of Electromagnetic Waves-
(i) The E.M waves nonmechanical transvers waves in nature.
(ii) They do not require any material medium for thjeir poropogation.

(iii) In E.M wave the electric field E and the magnetic field B oscillate perpendicular to each other and both
are perpendicular to direction of propogation of wave. The direction of propogation of wave is along

the direction of vector prouduct of E and B i.e along the direction of E B.
(iv) The magnitudes of electric field and magnetic field in the plane electromagnetic wave in vacuum are
related as
E E0 Erms 1
c 3 108 m / s
B B0 Brms 0 0

(v) For a plane e.m wave travelling along X axis, we let the Y axis parallel to electric field and Z axis parallel
to magnetic field.(both are in same phase) In that case

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EX=EZ=0 EY=E0 sin (kx-t)

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BX=BY=0 BZ= B0 sin (kx-t)
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where , E0 and B0 are amplitudes of electric and magnetic field resp. and
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wave frequency and wavelength , k is propogation constant.
2 k
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(vi) Electromagnetic waves obey the principle of superposition.

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(vii) Electromagnetic waves carry energy as they propagate through space.This energy is divided equally
between electric and magnetic fields.The energy density,i.e energy stored per unit volume in the electric
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and ,magnetic fields of an electromagnetic wave are

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1 1
UB
2
U E 0 ( Erms )
2
, ( Brms )
2 2 0

And the intensity of thee wave is defined as the energy flow per unit time per unit area perpendicular to
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1
the direction of energy flow. U B c 0 E0 c 0 Erms
2 2

2
(viii) Electromagnetic waves can transfer energy as well as momentum to objects placed on their paths.
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Momentum (P) and energy (E) of electromagnetic wave are related to as P
c
(ix) They travel with constant velocity of 3 108 m/s.
(x) They are not deflected by electric or magnetic field.
(xi) They can show deffraction or interference or may be polarized. So they are transverse waves.

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ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM-

Name of the radation 0

Order of wavelength in A Order of frequency in Hz

Gamma rays 10-4 - 0.1 1023 - 1019

X- rays 0.1 - 100 1019 - 1016
Ultraviolet 100 - 4000 1016 - 8 1014

Visible 4000 - 7800 8 1014 - 4 1014

Infrared 7800 - 107 4 1014 - 1011

Microwave 107 - 1010 1011 - 108

Radiowave 1010 & above 108 - below

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(i) Gamma rays or Gamma radiation- Gamma radiation is produced in nuclear reactions and also emitted

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by radioactive nuclei. They are used in medicine to destroy cancer cells, to collect Information about
structure of nuclei, in astronomical research,etc.

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(ii) X- Ray- One common way to generate X-rays is to bombard a metal target by high energy electrons.
Source of X rays is Inner or more tightly bound electrons in atoms. X-rays are used X-ray photography,
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treatment of cancer, skin disease & tumor, locating cracks and flaws in finished metallic objects,detection
of smuggled goods in bags of aperson, study of crystal structure, etc.
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(iii) Ulrtaviolet rays - 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
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the atmosphere. UV radiation is absorbed by ordinary glass. Welders wear special glass goggles or face
masks with glass windows to protect their eyes from large amount of UV produced by welding arcs.
these rays are used in LASIK (Laserassisted in situ keratomileusis) eye surgery. UV lamps are used to
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kill germs in water purifiers,detection of invisible writing, forged documents, finger print,etc.
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(iv) Visible rays - Visible light emitted or reflected from objects around us. Our eyes are sensitive to this
range of wavelengths. Source of these waves are Atoms and molecules when electrons are
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excited.These waves are used in Optics and OpticalInstruments, Vision, photography, etc.

(v) Infrared waves - Infrared waves are produced by hot bodies and molecules.These waves are used in
Industry, medicinastronomy, night vision device, grehouse, revealing secret writings onancient walls, etc.

(vi) Microwave - Microwaves (short-wavelength radio waves) 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. In microwave 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 temperature of any food containing water

(vii) Radio waves - Radio waves are produced by the accelerated motion of charges in conducting wires.
or by Oscillatingelectronic circuits They are used in radio and television communication systems.

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 ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
ONE MARK QUESTIONS
1 Name the scientist who first (i) predicted the existence of EM wave. (ii) Experimentally demonstrate
the existence of EM wave
2 Write 4 properties of em waves.
3 Write an expression for speed of em wave in free space.
4 Write two applications of microwaves.
5 Which part of the electromagnetic spectrum is used in operating RADAR?
6 What is the ratio of speed of infrared and ultraviolet rays in vacuum?
7 State modified Amperes circuital law.
8 What is Maxwells displacement current?
TWO MARKS QUESTIONS
9 A plane electromagnetic waves in vacuum along Y direction. Write the (i) ratio of magnitude and (ii)
direction of its electric and magnetic field vectors.
10 Identify the following electromagnetic waves per the wavelengths given below(i) 10-3nm(ii) 10-3m
11 Write the dimensions of (1/ )

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12 What is the wavelength of a television station, which transmits vision on 500 MHz?
13 The oscillating magnetic field in a plane electromagnetic wave is given by

14 Why can light travel in vacuum whereas sound cannot do so?

15 What are infrared rays? Write their two uses.
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By = 8 x 10-6 sin [2 x 1011t+ 300 x]. Calculate the wavelength of the wave.

16 How infrared rays are detected? Write the name of instrument also.
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17 What is common between different types of em waves?
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18 Find the amplitude of the electric field in parallel beam of light of intensity 8 Wm 2
THREE MARKS QUESTIONS
Draw a labeled diagram of Hertz experimental setup to produce electromagnetic waves. Explain the
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generation of electromagnetic waves using this setup.
20 Prove that electromagnetic waves are transverse in nature.
What is meant by em spectrum? Give its four uses.
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Write the order of frequency range and one use of the following radiations.
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(i)Microwaves (ii) Ultraviolet rays (iii)X rays
23 Why did Maxwell introduce the concept of displacement current? How does the concept of
displacement current lead to the production electromagnetic waves?
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24 A plane electromagnetic wave of frequency 25 MHz travels in free space along X direction. At a particular
point in space at time . What is at this point?
25 Give two uses each of the following
(a) Gamma ray (b)Infrared rays (c)Ultraviolet radiations
26 Give the frequency range and source of production of X rays. Also write two uses of it.
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27 Prove that (i) E0 cB0 (ii) c 0 0
28 A parallel plate capacitor has plates of area 0.32 m2, which are separated by a distance of 5 mm. The
capacitor is raised to a potential of 1200 V. Estimate the average value of ID,when it is discharged for 1 s.
29 A radio can tune into any station in the 7.5 MHz to 12 MHz Band. What is the corresponding wavelength
band?
30 About 5% of power of a 100W bulb is connected to visible radiation. What is the average intensity of
visible radiation (a) at a distance f 1 m from the bulb and (b) at a distance of 10 m. Assume that the
radiation is emitted isotropically and neglect reflection.

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Electromagnetic waves with wavelength
(I) 1 is used in satellite communication.
(ii) 2is used to kill germs in water purifies.
(iii) 3is used to detect leakage of oil in underground pipelines.
(iv) 4is used to improve visibility in runways during fog and mist conditions.
(a) Identify and name the part of electromagnetic spectrum to which these radiations belong.
(b) Arrange these wavelengths in ascending order of their magnitude.
(c) Write one more application of each.

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