Lesson 3 Radiation and Propagation of Waves

▪Mechanical waves require the presence of a medium.
▪Electromagnetic waves can propagate through empty space.

▪Maxwell’s equations form the theoretical basis of all electromagnetic waves that
propagate through space at the speed of light.
▪Hertz confirmed Maxwell’s prediction when he generated and detected
electromagnetic waves in 1887.
▪Electromagnetic waves are generated by oscillating electric charges.
▪ The waves radiated from the oscillating charges can be detected at great distances.
▪Electromagnetic waves carry energy and momentum.

▪Electromagnetic waves cover many frequencies.
▪1831 – 1879
▪Scottish theoretical physicist
▪Developed the electromagnetic theory of

light
▪His successful interpretation of the
electromagnetic field resulted in the field
equations that bear his name.
▪Also developed and explained
▪ Kinetic theory of gases
▪ Nature of Saturn’s rings
▪ Color vision
▪1857 – 1894
▪German physicist
▪First to generate and detect
electromagnetic waves in a laboratory
setting
▪The most important discoveries were
in 1887.
▪He also showed other wave aspects of
light.
▪An induction coil is connected to a
transmitter.
▪The transmitter consists of two spherical
electrodes separated by a narrow gap.
▪The coil provides short voltage surges
to the electrodes.
▪As the air in the gap is ionized, it
becomes a better conductor.
▪The discharge between the electrodes
exhibits an oscillatory behavior at a very
high frequency.
▪From a circuit viewpoint, this is
equivalent to an LC circuit.
▪Sparks were induced across the gap of the receiving electrodes when the frequency
of the receiver was adjusted to match that of the transmitter.
▪In a series of other experiments, Hertz also showed that the radiation generated by
this equipment exhibited wave properties.
▪ Interference, diffraction, reflection, refraction and polarization
▪He also measured the speed of the radiation.

▪ It was close to the known value of the speed of light.
▪ is an idealised wave environment where there are no other transverse
electromagnetic (TEM) wave, no gravity, no obstructions, no atmosphere, no celestial
events, no terrestrial events, no electrical noise, and no observers. In short, the wave
environment is free from everything except the wave itself.
▪ space that does not interfere with the normal radiation and propagation of waves
(epitome of nothingness).
7
A radiated TEM wave in free space is often referred to as being in time phase
and space quadrature. This means that the E and H fields rise and fall
together in time, but are 900 apart in space.
8
The Isotropic model
In free space, the TEM wave is thought as
emanating from a dimensionless source.
Mathematically, such a zero-dimensional source is
obviously a point source. Moreover, the waves
regarded as radiating uniformly in all direction
from this point. Consequently, we call such a
radiation point as isotropic source. The radiated
energy of equal intensity is required by a sphere
whose surface area is given by: 4R2 Point
Source
R
9
POLARIZATION
The orientation of the E-field component of the
TEM wave is called its polarization. If the direction
remains constant with time at a fixed point in
space, the field is said to be linearly polarized.
For wave propagation near the earth’s surface, the
term vertical, horizontal and slant polarization are
frequently used to denote linear polarizations with
appropriate orientations
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11
ELECTROMAGNETIC FREQUENCY
SPECTRUM
▪ Since light waves and radio waves are part of the
electromagnetic spectrum, they behave similarly.
▪ Thus, radio waves can:
▪ refract at the boundary between two different media
▪ reflect at the surface of a conductor
▪ diffract around the edge of an obstacle
▪ interfere with one and another to degrade performance
▪ Propagation of radio wave in the atmosphere is greatly

influenced by the frequency of the wave.
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▪ the return or change in direction of light, sound radiowaves
striking a surface or traveling from one medium to another
▪ Electromagnetic reflection occurs when an incident wave
strikes a boundary of two media and some or all of the
incident power does not enter the second material.
14
▪ the bending of a radio wave when it passes
obliquely from one medium to another in which
the velocity of propagation is different.
15
▪ the scattering of waves as it passes the edges of an object or opening.
Diffraction is defined as the modulation or redistribution of energy within
a wavefront when it passes near the edge of an opaque object.
Diffraction is the phenomena that allows light or radio waves to
propagate (peek) around corners.
16
▪ Radio wave interference occurs when two or more electromagnetic
waves combine in such a way that system performance is degraded. It
is subject to the principle of linear superposition of electromagnetic
waves and occurs whenever two or more waves simultaneously occupy
the same point in space.
17
▪ In every terrestrial radio system, there are three possible modes of propagation:
▪ Ground-wave or surface-wave propagation
▪ Space-wave or direct-wave propagation
▪ Sky-wave propagation
▪ At frequencies < 2 MHz, ground wave is best.

▪ Sky waves are used for HF signals.
▪ Space waves are used for VHF and above.
18
Engr. Flordeliza Valiente 19
Ground waves start out with the electric field being
perpendicular to the ground.
Due to the gradient density of the earth’s atmosphere
the wavefront tilts progressively.
Wavefront Direction of wave travel
Increasing
Tilt
Earth
20
▪ Advantages:
▪ Given enough power, can circumnavigate the earth.
▪ Relatively unaffected by atmospheric conditions.
▪ Disadvantages:
▪ Require relatively high transmission power.
▪ Require large antennas since frequency is low.
▪ Ground losses vary considerably with terrain
▪ Applications: MF broadcasting; ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore comms;

radio navigation; maritime communications.
21
▪ HF radio waves are returned from the F-layer of the ionosphere by a
form of refraction.
▪ The highest frequency that is returned to earth in the vertical
direction is called the critical frequency, fc.
▪ The highest frequency that returns to earth over a given path is
called the maximum usable frequency (MUF). Because of the
general instability of the ionosphere, the optimum working frequency
(FOT) = 0.85 MUF, is used instead.
22
Engr. Flordeliza Valiente 23
▪ Almost all HF propagation, and night time long distance MF propagation is
by sky wave.
▪ Above 30MHZ, waves are more likely to penetrate the ionosphere and
continue moving out into space.
▪ Ionosphere is most dense during time of maximum sunlight
▪ In general, the lower the frequency, the more easily the signal is
refracted.
▪ In the UHF and SHF bands, a very small percentage of the wave’s energy
is refracted back to earth
▪ Under the best conditions, the maximum distance of a single hop is about
2000 miles
24
25
•Is a special case of skywave propagation
used for frequencies higher than those in
standard skywave propagation technique.
•Troposphere (6-10mi above the earth’s
surface) is used as a reflector of UHF
signals.
•Is used when reliable long distance
communication link is needed across the
deserts, mountain regions, off shore
drilling platform and between distant
islands. 27
28
Space-Wave Propagation
Travel in a straight line from the transmitting antenna to receiving
antenna.
Space-wave propagation (also called line-of-sight LOS), requires a path
where both antennas are visible to one another and there are no
obstructions. VHF and UHF communications typically use this path
(frequencies above 30MHz).
29
▪ The radio horizon is greater than the
optical horizon by about one third due
to refraction of the atmosphere.
▪ Reflections from a relatively smooth
surface, such as a body of water, could
result in partial cancellation of the
direct signal - a phenomenon known as
fading. Also, large objects, such as
buildings and hills, could cause
multipath distortion from many
reflections. 30
▪ System composed of a communications satellite in
stationary orbit approximately 22,000 miles above the
earth’s surface, an earth-bound transmitting antenna,
and an earth bound receiving antenna.
▪ Required escape velocity: 17,500 mi/hr
▪ Lowest practical orbit: 100 miles above sea level
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▪Mechanical waves require the presence of a medium.

▪Electromagnetic waves can propagate through empty space.

▪Electromagnetic waves carry energy and momentum.

▪Scottish theoretical physicist

▪Developed the electromagnetic theory of

▪He also measured the speed of the radiation.

▪ Propagation of radio wave in the atmosphere is greatly

▪ At frequencies < 2 MHz, ground wave is best.

Wavefront Direction of wave travel

▪ Applications: MF broadcasting; ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore comms;

Perige Earth Apoge

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