EM WAVES

What are EM Waves? EM waves are waves that are created as a result of

vibrations between
an electric field and a magnetic field. In other words, EM waves are
composed of oscillating magnetic and electric fields. Electromagnetic

waves differ from mechanical waves in that they do

not require a medium to propagate. This means that electromagnetic
waves can travel not only through air and solid materials, but also
through the vacuum of space.
Types of EM Waves:
Thought the sciences generally classify EM waves into
seven basic types, all are manifestations of the same
phenomenon.

Radio Waves: Instant

Communication.
Microwaves: Data anD
Heat.
Visible Light Rays:
Light.
Ultraviolet Waves: Energetic
Light.
X-rays: Penetrating
Radiation.
Gamma Rays: Nuclear
Energy.
Electromagnetic
Spectrum:
Once light was determined to have a wave
nature,experimenters

looked to find and confirm the wavelength of visible light.

The wavelengths at which the human retina is sensitive to
are extremely small and not easily detectable. The unit
used for these wavelengths is the nanometer(nm), where 1
nm = 10-9meters. Experiments determined that visible light
has wavelengths covering the range from about 400 nm
for violet light to 700 nm for red light.(Some scientists
prefer to measure wavelengths in Angstroms, where one
Angstrom is 10-10meters.This project will use nanometers).
Maxwell realized his equations did not place any
limits on the
wavelength, and hence frequency of electromagnetic

radiation:
Electromagnetic waves could exist with wavelengths
both longer
and shorter than the range of visible light.
Consequently, researches started to look for invisible

light. The
range of all wavelengths, including both visible and
invisible light,
is now called the electromagnetic spectrum.
The most important characteristic of all these
waves is their
speed. It is the same as the speed of light! Mathematically,
using c for the speed of electromagnetic waves in the
equation for the speed of a wave, v = f, we can write:
c = wavelength X WAVELENGTH
CHARACTERISTICS OF EM WAVES:

 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.
 Accelerated charges are responsible to produce electromagnetic
waves.
 Electromagnetic waves have constant velocity in vacuum and it is
nearly equal to 3x108 ms-1which is denoted by C = 𝟏
√𝝁𝟎 𝜺𝟎
 Electromagnetic wave propagation does not require any material
medium to travel.
 The inherent characteristic of an electromagnetic wave is its
frequency. Their frequencies remain unchanged but its
wavelength changes when the wave travels from one medium to
another.
 The refractive index of a material is given by : n = √𝝁𝒓𝜺𝒓
 Electromagnetic wave follows the principle of superposition.
 The light vector(also known as the electric vector)is the reason for
the optical effects due to an electromagnetic wave.
 In an electromagnetic wave, the oscillating electric and magnetic
fields are in the 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. C = E0B0
 The energy is carries by the electric and magnetic fields of
electromagnetic waves are equal, i.e. the electric energy(UE)and
the magnetic energy(UM)are equal; UE = UM.
Uses of EM Waves:
Introduction:
 Wavelength of the Electromagnetic Spectrum continually changes
 High frequency = Short wavelength
 High frequency = High energy
 High energy = More dangerous

Radio Waves(communications):
 TV and FM radio(short wavelength)
 Direct line of sight with transmitter(do not diffract)
 Medium wavelength – travel further because they reflect from
layers in the atmosphere.

Satellite Signals(Microwaves):
 Frequency of microwaves pass easily through atmosphere and
clouds.

Cooking(Microwaves):
 Microwaves are absorbed by water molecules.
 These water molecules become heated > heat food.
 Dangers :Microwaves are absorbed by living tissue internal
heating will damage or kill cells.
Infrared Radiation(remote controls,toasters):
 Any object that radiates heat radiates infrared Radiation.
 Infrared Radiation is absorbed by all materials and causes heating.

 It is used for night vision and security cameras as Infrared

Radiation is visible in day time or night time.
 Police use it to catch criminals, army use it to detect enemy.
Dangers: Damage to cells(burns).


Ultraviolet:
Dangers:
 Over-exposure to UVA and B damages surface cells and eyes and
cause cancer.
 There is a problem with current sunscreens which protect against

skin burning from high UVB but give inadequate protection

against free radical damage caused by UVA.

 Sun exposure for the skin is best restricted to before 11am and
after 3pm in the UK in summer months.

Benefits:

 Sanitary and therapeutic properties have a marked effect on

architecture, engineering and public health and have done so
throughout history. UVC is germicidal, destroying bacteria, viruses
 and moulds in the air, in water and on surfaces. UV synthesizes
vitamin D in skin, controls the endocrine system and is a painkiller.
 Used in state of the art air-handling units, personal air purifiers
and swimming pool technology. Used to detect forged bank notes:
 they fluoresce in UV light; real bank notes don’t. Used to identify
items outside visible spectrum areas, known as ‘back lighting’.

X – rays:

 X – rays detect bone breaks.

 X – rays pass through flesh but not dense material like bones.
 Dangers: X – rays damage cells and cause cancers.

X – rays detect bone breaks.

DISPLACEMENT CURRENT
We know that an electric current produces a magnetic field around it.
J.C.Maxwell showed that for logical consistency, a changing electric
field must also produce a magnetic field. Further, since magnetic fields
have always been associated with currents. Maxwell postulated that
this current was proportional to the rate of change of the electric field
and called it displacement current. To determine this, let’s look at the
process of charging a capacitor. Further, we will apply Ampere’s
circuital law to find a magnetic point outside the capacitor.

The figure above shows a parallel plate capacitor connected in a circuit

through which a time – dependent current i(t) flows. We will try to find
the magnetic field at a point P, in the region outside the capacitor.
Consider a plane circular loop of radius r centered symmetrically with
the wire. Also, the plane of the loop is perpendicular to the direction of
the current carrying wire. Due to the symmetry, the magnetic field is
directed along the circumference of the loop and has similar magnitude
at all points on the loop.

However, as shown in the figure above, when the surface is replaced by

a pot-like surface where it doesn’t touch the current but has its bottom
between the capacitor plates or a tiffin-shaped surface (without the lid)
and Ampere’s circuital law is applied certain contradictions arise.
These contradictions arise since no current passes through the surface
and Ampere’s law does not take the scenario into consideration. This
leads us to understand that there is something missing in the Ampere’s
circuital law.
Also, the missing term is such which enables us to get the same
magnetic field at point P regardless of the surface used.
If we look at the last figure again, we can observe that the common
thing that passes through the surface and between the capacitor plates
is an electric field. This field is perpendicular to the surface, has the
same magnetic over the area of the capacitor plates and vanishes
outside it.

Hence, the electric flux through the surface is Q/0 (using Gauss’s
law).Further, since the charge on the capacitor plates changes with
time, for consistency we can calculate the current as follows:
i = 0 (dQ/dt)
This is the missing term in Ampere’s circuital law. In simple words,
when we add a term which is 0 times the rate of change of electric flux
to the toal current carried by the conductors, through the same
surface, then the total has the same value of current ‘i’ for all surfaces.
Therefore, no contradiction is observed if we use the Generalized
Ampere’s Law.
Hence, the magnitude of B at a point P outside the plates is the same at
a point just inside. Now, the current carried by conductors due to the
flow of charge is called ‘conduction current’. The new term added is the
current that flows due to the changing electric field and is called
‘Displacement current’ or ‘Maxwell’s Displacement current’. By now we
understand that there are two sources of a magnetic field.
1. Conduction electric current due to the flow of charges.
2. Displacement current due to the rate of change of the electric field.

Hence, the total current (i) is calculated as follows:(where ic –

conduction current and id – displacement current).
i = ic + id = ic + o(dQ/dt)
This means that
 Outside the capacitor plates: ic = i and id = 0
 Inside the capacitor plates: ic = 0 and id = i
So, the generalized Ampere’s law states:
“The total current passing through any surface of which the closed loop
is the perimeter is the sum of the conduction current and the
displacement current”.

This is also known as - Ampere – Maxwell Law. It is important to

remember that the displacement and conduction currents have the
same physical effects. Here are some points to remember;
 In cases where the electric field does not change with time, like
steady electric fields in a conducting wire, the displacement
current may be zero.
 In cases like the one explained above, both currents are present in
different regions of the space.
 Since a perfectly conducting or insulating medium does not exist,
 in most cases both the currents can be present in the same
region.
 In cases where there is no conduction current but a time-varying
electric field, only displacement current is present. In such a
scenario we have a magnetic field even when there is no
conduction current source nearby.

Ampere – Maxwell Law:

When electromagnetic waves propagate in space than electric and

magnetic field oscillate in mutual perpendicular direction.

We know that time varying magnetic field produces electric field.

Maxwell explained that time varying electric field also produces

magnetic field Maxwell formulated a set of equation (Maxwell
questions)involving electric and magnetic field.

Ampere law
∳𝐵.𝑑𝑙= 𝜇0𝑖
Maxwell formed the relation of time varying electric and magnetic field.
𝑑 ∅𝐸
∳ 𝐵 . 𝑑 𝑙 0 =0 𝜇𝑑 𝜀𝑡

So combination of Ampere law

𝑑 ∅𝐸
∳ 𝐵 . 𝑑 𝑙 0= 0 𝜇 𝜀 + 𝜇 0𝑖
𝑑𝑡
𝜇0=(𝑖𝑑+𝑖)
𝑖𝑑 = displacement current
i = conduction current

𝑑 ∅𝐸
∴ 𝑑 =𝑖 0𝜀
𝑑𝑡
𝜀0 = permittivity.