FUNDAMENTALS OF RADIO WAVE

• INTRODUCTION

• As with light, radio waves propagate outwards from a source of energy

(transmitter) and comprise electric (E) and magnetic (H) fields at right
angles to one another. These two components, the E-field and the H-field,
are inseparable.

• The resulting wave travels away from the source with the E and H lines
mutually at right angles to the direction of propagation.
FUNDAMENTALS OF RADIO WAVE
• Radio waves are said to be polarised in the plane of the electric (E) field.
Thus, if the E-field is vertical, the signal is said to be vertically polarised
whereas, if the E-field is horizontal, the signal is said to be horizontally
polarised.

• Radio waves propagate in air (or space) at the speed of light (300 million
metres per second).
• following figure shows the electric E-field lines in the space between a transmitter and a
receiver. The transmitter aerial (a simple dipole) is supplied with a high frequency
alternating current. This gives rise to an alternating electric field between the ends of the
aerial and an alternating magnetic field around (and at right angles to) it.
• The direction of the E-field lines is reversed on each cycle of the signal as
the wavefront moves outwards from the source.

• The receiving aerial intercepts the moving field and voltage and current is
induced in it as a consequence. This voltage and current is similar (but of
smaller amplitude) to that produced by the transmitter.
• Radio waves propagate in air (or space) at the speed of light (300 million
metres per second).

• The velocity of propagation, (v) wavelength (ƛ) and frequency, (f) of a

radio wave are related by the equation: (v=f.ƛ =3x10 8 m/s)

• When a radio wave travels in a cable (rather than in air or 'free space') it
usually travels at a speed that is between 60% and 80% of that of the
speed of light.
• FUNDAMENTALS OF RADIOWAVE PROPAGATION
WAVE THEORY:-
• A wave can be defined as a disturbance (sound, light, radio waves) which
moves through a medium (air, water, vacuum).

• Wave motion can be defined as a recurring disturbance advancing through

space with or without the use of a physical medium. Therefore, it is a means
of moving or transferring energy from one point to another point. For
example, when sound waves strike a microphone, sound energy is converted
into electrical energy.

• When radio waves strike an antenna, they are likewise converted into
electrical energy. Thus, sound, light, and radio waves are all forms of energy
that are moved by wave motion
• There are two types of mechanical waves known as transverse waves and
longitudinal (compressional) waves.

• The transverse and longitudinal waves are also called periodic waves because
they consist of cycles or patterns that are produced over and over again by
the source.
• TRANSVERSE WAVES :-
The analogy of wave motion in water helps to explain the basic concept of how a radio
wave propagates. Dropping a stone into a pool of water result in a disturbance of the water
(the medium). From the point of impact, the disturbance is transmitted on the surface of
the water as an expanding series of circular waves.
• TRANSVERSE WAVES :-
• Note that the leading wave has amplitude and wavelength corresponding to
one compete cycle.

• The water is not actually being moved by the outward motion of the wave,
but rather by the up and down motion of the water.

• The up and down motion is traverse, or at right angles (perpendicular) to the

outward motion of the waves. This is called traverse wave motion.

• Radio waves, light waves, and microwaves are transverse waves. Transverse
waves also travel on the strings of instruments such as guitars and banjos
• LONGITUDINAL (COMPRESSIONAL) WAVES
• A longitudinal wave is a wave in which particles of the medium move in a
direction parallel to the direction that the wave moves.

• Suppose that a slinky is stretched out in a horizontal direction across the

classroom and that a pulse is introduced into the slinky on the left end by
vibrating the first coil left and right as shown in Figure.

• Energy will begin to be transported through the slinky from left to right. As
the energy is transported from left to right, the individual coils of the
medium will be displaced leftwards and rightwards. In this case, the particles
of the medium move parallel to the direction that the pulse moves.

• This type of wave is a longitudinal wave, for example, a sound wave.

• LONGITUDINAL (COMPRESSIONAL) WAVES
• Longitudinal waves are characterized by regular regions of high and low
pressure along the wave. High pressure regions are called compressions and
low pressure regions are called rarefactions
• BASIC WAVE TERMINOLOGY
• Some common terms are used to describe the characteristics of waves.
Taking into consideration, the earlier example of ripples created in water due
to a falling stone, some basic wave terms can be easily explained as given
below.
• AMPLITUDE (A) The amplitude of a traverse wave is half the distance
measured vertically (height) from the crest to the trough.

• WAVE LENGTH (f) A wavelength or one cycle, is the distance from the crest
of one wave to the crest of the next, or between any two similar points on
adjacent waves. In case of a radio wave, a wavelength would be the distance
in space occupied by one cycle of a radio wave for a given period.
Wavelengths vary from a few hundredths of an inch at extremely high
frequencies, to many miles at extremely low frequencies. Wavelengths are,
however, expressed in meters.
• BASIC WAVE TERMINOLOGY
• FREQUENCY (F) The number of times the wave cycle repeats in a given unit
of time is called the frequency of the wave and is measured in hertz (Hz). the
term Hz was designated for use in lieu of the term "cycles per second" when
referring to the frequency of radio waves. The frequency of household
current is 60 Hz. The frequency of airborne radio equipment is generally in
the millions-of -Hz range.

• WAVE PERIOD (T) The wave period is the measure of time it takes for the
wave cycle to complete, measured in seconds. We usually measure the wave
period in seconds and represent it with the letter T. The wave period and
frequency are inversely proportional to each other, so if the frequency
increases, the period decreases, and vice-versa
• BASIC WAVE TERMINOLOGY
• WAVE FRONT In the case of a water wave created by a rock dropped into a
still pool of water, the wave fronts indicate the crests of water wave

• RAYS The radial motion of the waves is indicated by the outward-pointing

arrows, referred to as rays
• ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
• An electromagnetic wave consists of two primary components: an electric
field and a magnetic field. The electric field results from the force of voltage,
and the magnetic field results from the flow of current.
• Electromagnetic fields that are radiated are commonly considered to be
waves and electromagnetic radiation in space can be interpreted as
horizontal and vertical lines of force oriented at right angles to each other.
• These lines of force are made up of an electric field (E) and a magnetic field
(H), which when combined make up the electromagnetic field.
• The electric and magnetic fields radiated from an antenna form just such an
electromagnetic field which is responsible for the transmission and reception
of electromagnetic energy through free space.
• ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
THANKING YOU