ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE

Electromagnetic waves are waves which can travel through the vacuum of outer
space. Electromagnetic waves are created by the vibration of an electric charge. This
vibration creates a wave which has both an electric and a magnetic component. An
electromagnetic wave transports its energy through a vacuum at a speed of 3.0 x
108 m/s.
According to Maxwell, a varying electric field gives rise to a magnetic
field. An accelerated charge produces a time varying magnetic field
which in turn produces a time varying electric field. Thus,
electromagnetic wave consists of sinusoidal time varying electric and
magnetic fields and both the fields are perpendicular to each other.
 important characteristics of electromagnetic waves
• An electromagnetic wave can begin with the movement of charged particles, all
of which have electric fields around them ,
• As the particles changes speed or direction, a vibrating electric field will be
created, results in the formation of a magnetic field.
• Electromagnetic waves are transverse in nature as they propagate by varying the
electric and magnetic fields such that the two fields are perpendicular to each
other.
• Electromagnetic waves have constant velocity in vacuum and it is nearly equal to
3x108m/s
• Electromagnetic wave propagation it does not require any material
medium to travel.
• The inherent characteristic of electromagnetic wave is its frequency. Their
frequencies remain unchanged but its wavelength changes when the wave
travels from one medium to another.
• In an electromagnetic wave the oscillating electric and magnetic fields are in
same phase and their magnitudes have a constant ratio. The ratio of the
amplitudes of electric and magnetic fields is equal to the velocity of the
electromagnetic wave.
 APPLICATIONS FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
EM waves accomplish the transmission of energy through a vacuum or using no
medium.
Since electromagnetic waves transmit energy, it plays an important role in our
daily lives including the communication technology.
Electromagnetic radiation is the foundation for working of radar which in turn is
used for guiding and remote sensing the study of our planet Earth.
Ultraviolet rays are germicidal in nature and destroy bacteria, viruses and
moulds from various surfaces, air or water.
UV rays are also used to detect the forged bank notes. Real bank notes don’t
turn fluorescent under the UV light.
X-rays detect the bone breaks by passing through the flesh and capturing the
image.
Gamma rays can cause and also treat cancers. High doses of gamma rays kill the
normal cells causing cancer while proper amount can kill mutated cells.
Infrared radiation is used for night vision and comes handy for security cameras.
Infrared radiation is visible at all times thus is used by officials to capture enemy .
A single equation describes the most important property of electromagnetic wave,
which is the relation of the frequency, wavelength and velocity of the wave.

In vacuum , such as a space the value of velocity, is

as given above. The value of c in air is about 98% of
the value in vacuum. In a wire the speed of wave is
from 50 to 60 % of the speed in vacuum.
The wavelength is the distance between the
successive crests of the wave. Wavelength is
the distance over which the wave's shape
repeats while frequency is simply the
number of waves passing a point in a period
of 1 second.
The total range of frequencies that can used for communication is
called electromagnetic spectrum.

The spectrum has been divided in to many groupings or bands and

different bands are assigned for different uses.

An international commission meets regularly to decide and assign

which frequency ranges should be used by various countries for
operations other wise – interference.
The entire electromagnetic spectrum, from the lowest to the highest
frequency (longest to shortest wavelength), includes all radio waves (e.g.,
commercial radio and television, microwaves, radar), infrared radiation,
visible light, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays, and gamma rays. Nearly all
frequencies and wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation can be used for
spectroscopy.
 What is Radio Frequency?
RF is the lowest portion in the electromagnetic spectrum familiar as a medium of
analogue and modern digital wireless communication system. It spreads in the
range between 3 KHz and 300 GHz. All known transmission systems works in the
RF spectrum range including analogue radio, aircraft navigation, marine radio,
amateur radio, TV broadcasting, mobile networks and satellite systems. Let’s take
a look on each of the RF sub bands and the areas of RF spectrum uses.
 Extremely Low Frequency (ELF)
Frequency starting from 3Hz to 3 KHz is known as extremely low frequency
or ELF range in electromagnetic spectrum. This range is highly vulnerable
to disturbance and easily gets distorted by atmospheric changes. It is hard
to design a system in this rage is challenging because of the larger
wavelengths required long antennas which are practically impossible to
achieve. Scientists use this frequency band in seismic studies to
understand natural activities in earth’s atmosphere.

Very Low Frequency (VLF)

Very low frequency is the starting range of RF and practical radio
transmission system which span from 3 KHz to 30 KHz. However, design
and implementation of the antenna system is extremely complicated due
to the wavelength. It has been using in submarines and still used in time
radio station which synchronizes clock signals between two remote
locations.
 Low Frequency (LF)
Low frequency is in the range of 30 KHz to 300 KHz. One of the important
properties of LF signals is that it will get reflected by earth’s ionosphere and
thus it is suitable for long distance communication. Since it’s long wavelength
and less attenuation from big terrains like mountains, it is generally called
ground waves. Low frequency signals are used by amateur radio operators; it is
one of the most important sources of information transfer when other kind of
communication sources fails during some situation like natural disasters. Other
areas are military applications like submarines, RFID tags in near field
communication and some low frequency radio broadcasting.
Medium Frequency (MF)
Medium frequency was one of the most popular frequency bands since the
beginning of wireless radio transmission in the early nineteenth century. MF
operates in the range of 300 KHz to 3 MHz. Design of transmitters, receivers
and antenna are relatively less complex than other high frequency transmission
bands. MF has been widely using in AM radio transmission, navigation systems
for ships and aircraft, emergency distress signals, cost guards and other
experimental applications.
 High Frequency (HF)
High frequency signals ranges between 3 MHz and 30 Mhz. This frequency
band is also known as short wave. It also gets reflected by earth’s
ionosphere and it is one of the suitable band for long distance
communication. High frequency band is mostly used by aviation industry,
government systems, amateur radio operators and weather broadcasting
stations.

Very High Frequency (VHF)

Very high frequency is one of the most commonly used bands which has
an operating range from 30 MHz to 300 MHz. VHF frequency is widely
used in analog TV broadcasting since it has started few decades back. FM
radio broadcasting at 88 MHz to 108 MHz operates in VHF frequency
band. Another uses includes private and business radio station, medical
equipment (magnetic resonance imaging), amateur radio and military
applications. It usually affected by big terrains but suitable for short
distance communication.
 Ultra High Frequency (UHF)
Ultra high frequency is the most important frequency bands for modern
wireless communication systems. It begins from 300 MHz to 3 GHz and
extremely complicated to design and implement the system. It has many
sub frequency bands, some are restricted and assigned only for particular
applications. It is used in GPS navigation systems, satellites, pagers, Wi-Fi,
Bluetooth, television broadcasting, and most importantly GSM, CDMA and
LTE mobile transmission.

Super High Frequency (SHF)

Super high frequency is in the range of 3 GHz to 30 GHz. It can only operate
in line of sight path since any obstruction in between the transmitter and
receiving station will break the communication. It is commonly used in
point to point communication, satellite systems, digital TV broadcasting in
Ku band (DTH service – direct to home), Wi-Fi (5GHz channel), microwave
ovens and mobile networks. Waveguides are suitable between transmitter
and antenna due to higher losses of usual RF cables. System design is
extremely hard in SHF band due to its smaller wavelength and complexity.
 Extremely High Frequency (EHF)

Extremely high frequency band is the highest in RF frequency

spectrum which range between 30 GHz and 300 GHz. EHF is only

used in advanced communication systems due to its complex

nature and line of sight requirement. EHF is used in radio

astronomy and remote sensing (weather analysis). It is suggested to

use for high speed internet systems like 5G technology for future

transmission networks due to large bandwidth availability.