Simplified Physics with AG Sir

Electromagnetic Waves

Core Concepts
1. Concept of displacement current
 
∫
(a) Ampere's circuital law B ⋅ dl =µ0I , but later in the process of charging of a capacitor, Maxwell
found this equation incomplete. To make Ampere's law complete, Maxwell gave the concept of
displacement current and modified Ampere's circuital law.
+q E = f(t)
   dφE  −q
∫B ⋅ dl = µ0  ic + ε0



dt 
(Ampere – Maxwell Law)
ic
+
+
–
– ic
(b) Displacement current exists where electric field changes with time. + –
+ –
dφE dV
Displacement current id = ε0 = C + –
dt dt id
(c) During charging of a capacitor, conduction current (ic) in the wire and
displacement current (id) in the gap are exactly equal.
Between the plates id ≠ 0, ic = 0; Outside the plates id = 0, ic ≠ 0
(d) Is, Kirchoff's first Rule (Junction rule) valid at each plate of capacitor → YES
(e) In all respects, the displacement current has the same physical effect as the
conduction current. P
r R
(f) Magnitude of B at a distance r (r < R) from the axis, between the plates
ic
µ ir d
B = 0c
~ −
+
2
2πR
2. An accelerating charge produces electromagnetic waves. An electric charge
oscillating harmonically with frequency f, produces electromagnetic waves of the same frequency f.
An oscillating electric dipole is a basic source of electromagnetic waves.
3. Hertz's experiment confirmed that accelerating charges produce EM waves.
1 1 c
4. All EM waves travel with same speed. In vacuum c = and in a medium
= with v =
µ 0 ε0 µ0µr ε0εr µr εr
5. All EM waves are transverse in nature hence they can be polarized because polarization is the sure
check of transverse nature of a wave.
6. All EM waves are non mechanical transverse wave which does not require any medium to propagate.

7. If Ey(x, t) and Bz(x, t) represent the instantaneous values of the y-component of E and the

z-component of B respectively, and let E0 and B0 represent the amplitudes of these fields.
EM wave is propagating in the +x direction, then
Ey E0 sin(ωt − kx) and=
= Bz B0 sin(ωt − kx)
(a) t dk coeff. = ω; x dk coeff. = K
ωt and kx ds sign mYVs iqYVs → wave is moving in +ve x direction
ωt and kx ds sign same → wave is moving in –ve x direction
ω 2π 2π Speed of EM wave
(b) = speed of EM wave; ω = 2πf = and K = and frequency (f) =
K T λ Wavelength
(c) Electric and magnetic fields oscillate sinusoidally in space and time in an electromagnetic wave.
 
The oscillating electric and magnetic fields, E and B are perpendicular to each other, and to the
 
direction of propagation of the electromagnetic wave. ( E .B = 0 )
 
(d) At any point, the sinusoidal plane wave of the E and B field are in phase.
E0 ERMS E  E0 E0 
(e) = = = = c  ERMS = & BRMS 
B0 BRMS B  2 2 
 
(f) The vector product E × B always points in the direction of propagation.
^
c

ˆ ×B
ĉ= E ˆ ˆ= B
E ˆ×c
ˆ ˆ=
ĉ × E ˆ
B
^
B ^
E

1
 Simplified Physics with AG Sir
8. Average energy in electric field and that in magnetic field in an EM wave is same.
1
(a) Average energy density of electric field uE = ε E2 ;
4 0 0
B2  1 1B 
2
(b) Average energy density of magnetic field uB = 0  always ε0E20 = 0 
4µ0  4 4 µ0 
 
1 B 
2
1
(c) Total average energy density in EM wave uTotal = ε0E20 =  0 
2 2  µ0 
 
9. Average intensity of wave Iav = Average energy density × (speed of light)
1 B20
Iavg = ε0E02 (c) = (c)
2 2µ0
Iavg
In above, intensity due to electric field =
2
10. Electromagnetic Spectrum
The basic difference between various types of electromagnetic waves lies in their wavelengths or
frequencies since all of them travel through vacuum with the same speed. Consequently, the waves
differ considerably in their mode of interaction with matter.
Type Wavelength range Production Detection
Radio > 0.1 m Rapid acceleration and Receiver’s aerials
decelerations of electrons in
aerials
Microwave 0.1m to 1 mm Klystron valve or magnetron Point contact diodes
valve
Infra-red 1mm to 700 nm Vibration of atoms and Thermopiles Bolometer,
molecules Infrared photographic film
Light 700 nm to 400 nm Electrons in atoms emit light The eye Photocells
when they move from one energy Photographic film
level to a lower energy level
Ultraviolet 400 nm to 1nm Inner shell electrons in atoms Photocells Photographic
moving from one energy level to film
a lower level
X-rays 1nm to 10–3 nm X-ray tubes or inner shell Photographic film Geiger
electrons tubes Ionisation chamber
Gamma rays < 10 nm –3
Radioactive decay of the nucleus -do-
Radio waves dh wave-length lcls T;knk gksrh gS (λ > 0.1 m)
Visible dh wavelength (4000Å – 7000Å) gksrh gSA X-ray dh wave-length (0.01Å – 10Å) gksrh gSA
11. Maxwell's Equation
  q
∫
(a) E ⋅ ds =
ε0
(Gauss’s Law for electricity)
 
∫
(b) B ⋅ ds = 0 (Gauss’s Law for magnetism)
  dφ
(c) ∫
E ⋅ dl =− B
dt
(Faraday’s Law)

   dφ 
∫
(d) B ⋅ dl = µ0  ic + ε0 E 

 dt 
(Ampere – Maxwell Law)

12. Poynting vector