The electromagnetic wave is an important topic that is asked in NDA, Air Force Group X & Y Exams. This topic is also asked in the Indian Navy SSR AA Exam. We are sharing important notes for you
Notes on Electromagnetic Waves
Displacement Current
While charging a capacitor, Maxwell found an inconsistency in the Ampere’s law.
Maxwell suggested the existence of an additional current, called displacement current, to remove this inconsistency.
This displacement current is due to the time-varying electric field and is given by
id = εo (dϕE/dt)
and acts as a source of the magnetic field in exactly the same way as conduction current.
Maxwell’s Equations
Electromagnetic Waves
Electromagnetic waves are those waves in which there are sinusoidal variations of electric and magnetic field vectors at right angles to each other as well as at right angles to the direction of wave propagation.
Sources of electromagnetic waves
Accelerated charges radiate electromagnetic waves. An oscillating charge is an example of an accelerating charge. Electromagnetic waves are also produced when fast-moving electrons are suddenly stopped by a metallic surface of high atomic number.
Nature of Electromagnetic Waves
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. For a wave of frequency ν, wavelength λ, propagating along the z-direction, we have
Note: Eo/Bo = c, where c is the velocity of light.
Speed of Electromagnetic Wave
The speed c of the electromagnetic wave in vacuum is related to μ and ε (the free space permeability and permittivity constants) as follows:
Electromagnetic waves other than light also have the same velocity c in free space.
The speed of light, or of electromagnetic waves in a material medium is given by
where μ is the permeability of the medium and ε its permittivity.
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Different Types of Electromagnetic Waves
Type (Wavelength) | Production | Detection |
Radio (> 0.1 m) | Rapid acceleration and decelerations of electrons in aerials | Receiver’s aerials |
Microwave (0.1m to 1 mm) | Klystron valve or magnetron valve | Point contact diodes |
Infra-red (1 mm to 700 nm) | Vibration of atoms and molecules | Thermopiles Bolometer, Infrared photographic film |
Visible light (700 nm to 400 nm) | 700 nm to 400 nm | Electrons in atoms emit light when they move from one energy level to a lower energy level |
Ultraviolet (400 nm to 1nm) | Inner shell electrons in atoms moving from one energy level to a lower level | Photocells, Photographic film |
X-rays (1nm to 10‒3 nm) | X-ray tubes or inner shell electrons | Photographic film, Geiger tubes, Ionisation chamber |
Gamma rays (< 10‒3 nm) | Radioactive decay of the nucleus |
Radio waves
Radio waves are produced by the accelerated motion of charges in conducting wires.
They are used in radio and television communication systems.
They are generally in the frequency range from 500 kHz to about 1000 MHz.
Microwaves
Microwaves (short-wavelength radio waves), with frequencies in the gigahertz (GHz) range.
They are produced by special vacuum tubes (called klystrons, magnetrons and Gunn diodes).
Due to their short wavelengths, they are suitable for the radar systems used in aircraft navigation.
Infrared waves
Infrared waves are sometimes referred to as heat waves.
Infrared waves are produced by hot bodies and molecules.
Infrared radiation plays an important role in maintaining the earth’s warmth or average temperature through the greenhouse effect.
Visible rays
It is the part of the spectrum that is detected by the human eye.
It runs from about
4 × 1014 Hz to about 7 × 1014 Hz or a wavelength range of about 700 – 400 nm.
Visible light emitted or reflected from objects around us provides us information about the world.
Ultraviolet rays
It covers wavelengths ranging from about 4 × 10–7 m (400 nm) down to 6 × 10–10 m (0.6 nm).
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is produced by special lamps and very hot bodies.
The sun is an important source of ultraviolet light.
Ultraviolet radiations can be focussed into very narrow beams for high precision applications such as LASIK (Laser assisted in situ keratomileusis) eye surgery.
Ultraviolet lamps are used to kill germs in water purifiers
X-rays
It covers wavelengths from about 10‒8 m (10 nm) down to 10‒13 m (10‒4 nm).
One common way to generate X-rays is to bombard a metal target by high energy electrons.
X-rays are used as a diagnostic tool in medicine and as a treatment for certain forms of cancer.
Gamma rays
The wavelengths of Gamma rays are from about 10‒10 m to less than 10‒14 m.
Gamma rays are produced in nuclear reactions and also emitted by radioactive nuclei.
They are used in medicine to destroy cancer cells.
Below is a PDF for the same:
Notes on Electromagnetics (PDF)
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Important Study Notes for Defence Exams
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