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Chapter 8
Electromagnetic Waves
Introduction
An electrical current produces a magnetic field around it. Further, a
magnetic field changing with time gives rise to an electric field. Is the
converse also true? Does an electric field changing with time give rise to
a magnetic field?
According to James Clerk Maxwell , time-varying electric
field generates magnetic field. Maxwell formulated a set of equations
involving electric and magnetic fields, known as Maxwell’s equations.
Maxwell’s equations predicted the existence of electromagnetic waves,
which are (coupled) timevarying electric and magnetic fields that
propagate in space. Hertz, in 1885, experimentally demonstrated the
existence of electromagnetic waves. Its technological use by Marconi and
others led in due course to the revolution in communication that we are
witnessing today.
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Displacement Current
The current due to changing electric field or electric flux is called called
displacement current or Maxwell’s displacement current.
q
Electric flux ϕE = ε0
ⅆϕE 1 ⅆq
=
ⅆt ε0 ⅆt
ⅆϕE 1
= i
ⅆt ε ⅆ
0
𝐝𝛟𝐄
Displacement current 𝐢𝐝 = 𝛆𝟎 𝐝𝐭

Ampere-Maxwell law
According to Maxwell the source of a magnetic field is not just the
conduction electric current due to flowing charges, but also the time rate
of change of electric field.
The total current i is the sum of the conduction current ( ic ) and
displacement current ( iⅆ )
i= 𝐢𝐜 + 𝐢𝐝
ⅆϕ
i= ic + ε0 ⅆtE
Ampere’s theorem become
∮ B ⋅ ⅆ𝑙 = μ0 (iC + iⅆ )
ⅆϕ
∮ B ⋅ ⅆ𝑙 = μ0 (ic + ε0 E)
ⅆt
𝐝𝛟𝐄
∮ 𝐁 ⋅ ⅆ𝒍 = 𝛍𝟎 𝐢𝐜 + 𝛍𝟎 𝛆𝟎 𝐝𝐭
This is known as Ampere-Maxwell law.
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Electromagnetic waves
Sources of Electromagnetic Waves
▪ A stationary charge produces only electrostatic fields.
▪ Charges in uniform motion (steady currents) can produce
magnetic fields that, do not vary with time.
▪ An oscillating charge(accelerating charge) produces an oscillating
electric field in space, which produces an oscillating magnetic field,
which in turn, is a source of oscillating electric field, and so on. The
oscillating electric and magnetic fields thus regenerate each other,
as the electro magnetic wave propagates through the space.
Thus an oscillating charge(accelerating charge) is the source
of electromagnetic waves.

An electric charge oscillating harmonically with frequency 𝑣, produces

electromagnetic waves of the same frequency 𝑣.
▪ The experimental demonstration of electromagnetic wave in the
radio wave region was done by Hertz in1887.
▪ Seven years after Hertz, Jagdish Chandra Bose, succeeded in
producing and observing electromagnetic waves of much shorter
wavelength
(25 mm to 5 mm).
▪ At around the same time, Guglielmo Marconi succeeded in
transmitting electromagnetic waves over distances of many
kilometres. Marconi’s experiment marks the beginning of the field of
communication using electromagnetic waves.

Nature of Electromagnetic Waves

1) In an e.m waves are transverse waves in which the electric and
magnetic fields are perpendicular to each other, and also to the direction
of propagation.
2) The speed of e.m.wave in vacuum is,
𝟏
𝐜=
√𝛍𝟎 𝛆𝟎
3)The speed of of electromagnetic waves in a material medium is
The speed of of electromagnetic waves in a material medium is
𝟏 𝟏 𝐜
𝐯= or 𝐯 = or 𝐯 =
√𝛍𝛆 √𝛍𝟎 𝛍𝐫 𝛆𝟎 𝛆𝐫 √𝛍𝐫 𝛆𝐫
4) The electric and the magnetic fields in an electromagnetic wave are
related as
𝐄𝟎
=𝐜
𝐁𝟎
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5) No material medium is required for the propagation of e.m.wave.
6) Electromagnetic waves carry energy as they travel through space and
this energy is shared equally by the electric and magnetic fields.

7)Electromagnetic waves transport momentum as well. When these

waves strike a surface, total momentum delivered to this surface is,
𝐔
p=𝐜 , where U is the energy

Expression for electric field and magnetic field

Consider an electromagnetic wave propagating along the z direction. Let
the electric field 𝐸𝑥 is along the x-axis and the magnetic field 𝐵𝑦 is along
the y-axis. Then

𝐄𝐱 = 𝐄𝟎 sin (k z– ωt)
𝐁𝐲 = 𝐁𝟎 sin (k z– ωt)
𝟐𝛑
Here 𝐤 =
𝛌
k is the propagation constant
ω =𝟐𝝅𝒗
ω is the angular frequency
𝜔 2𝜋𝜈
= 2𝜋 = 𝑣𝜆 = 𝑐
𝑘
𝜆
𝛚
Speed, c=
𝐤
Example
A plane electromagnetic wave of frequency 25 MHz travels in free space
along the x-direction. At a particular point in space and time, E =
6.3ĵ V/m. What is B at this point?
𝐄𝟎
=𝐜
𝐁𝟎
𝐄𝟎 6.3
𝐁𝟎 = c
=3 x 108 =2.1 x10−8 T
E is along y-direction and the wave propagates along x-axis.
Therefore, B should be in a direction perpendicular to both x- and y-axes.
i.e., B is along z-axis.
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Example
The magnetic field in a plane electromagnetic wave is given by
𝐵𝑦 = 2 × 10−7 sin (0.5×103 𝑥 + 1.5×1011 t) T.
a) What is the wavelength and frequency of the wave?
b) Write an expression for the electric field.

(a) 𝐵𝑦 = 2 × 10−7 sin (0.5×103 𝑥 + 1.5×1011 t)

Comparing with general expression for magnetic field of an em
wave travelling in x direction,
By = B0 sin (kx– ωt)

k=0.5×103
2π
k= λ =0.5×103
2π
λ = 0.5×103
=12.56 × 10−3 m

ω =1.5×1011
ω =2𝜋𝑣 =1.5×1011
11
1.5×10
𝑣=
2π
=0.24 x1011 Hz

b) B is along y-direction and the wave propagates along x-axis.

Therefore, E should be in a direction perpendicular to both x- and y-axes.
i.e., E is along z-axis.
So expression for electric field is ,
Ez = E0 sin (k x– ωt)
E0
=c
B 0
E0 =B0 𝑥 𝑐
=2 × 10−7 x 3 × 108
=60 V/m
𝐄𝐳 = 60 sin (0.5×𝟏𝟎𝟑 𝒙 + 1.5×𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟏 t) V/m
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Electromagnetic Spectrum
The classification of em waves according to frequency is the
electromagnetic spectrum. There is no sharp division between one kind
of wave and the next.

Radio waves
▪ Radio waves are produced by the accelerated motion of charges in
conducting wires.
▪ Frequency range from 500 kHz to about 1000 MHz.
▪ (i)They are used in radio and television communication systems.
(ii)Cellular phones use radio waves.

Microwaves
▪ Microwaves (short-wavelength radio waves), are produced by
special vacuum tubes called, klystrons, magnetrons and Gunn
diodes.
▪ Frequencies in the gigahertz (GHz) range,
▪ (i)Used for radar systems used in aircraft navigation .
(ii)Used in speed guns used to time fast balls, tennisserves,
and automobiles.
(iii) Microwaves are used in microwave ovens , for cooking.
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How is food cooked in microwave ovens?
In microwave ovens, the frequency of the microwaves is selected to
match the resonant frequency of water molecules so that energy from
the waves is transferred efficiently to the kinetic energy of the molecules.
This raises the temperature of any food containing water.

Infrared waves
▪ Infrared waves are produced by hot bodies and molecules.
▪ (i) Infrared lamps are used in physical therapy.
(ii) Infrared radiation plays an important role in maintaining the
earth’s warmth or average temperature through the greenhouse
effect.
(iii)Infrared detectors are used in Earth satellites, both for
military purposes and to observe growth of crops.
(iv)LEDs emit infrared waves, which are used in the remote
switches of TV sets, video recorders and hi-fi systems.

Why IR waves are called heat waves?

Infrared waves are sometimes referred to as heat waves. This is because
water molecules present in most materials readily absorb infrared
waves
( CO2 , NH3 , also absorb infrared waves). After absorption, their thermal
motion increases, that is, they heat up and heat their surroundings.

Greenhouse Effect
Incoming visible light is absorbed by the earth’s surface and reradiated
as infrared (longer wavelength) radiations. This radiation is trapped by
greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and water vapour. This trapped
Infrared radiation maintains the earth’s warmth.

Visible rays
▪ Electrons in atoms emit The eye light when they move from
Photocells one energy level to a Photographic film lower energy
level’
▪ Frequency range of 4 × 1014 Hz to 7 × 1014 Hz
Wavelength range of about 700 – 400 nm.
Our eyes are sensitive to this range of wavelengths. Different animals
are sensitive to different range of wavelengths. For example, snakes can
detect infrared waves, and the ‘visible’ range of many insects extends
well into the utraviolet.
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Ultraviolet rays
▪ Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is produced by special lamps and very
hot bodies. The sun is an important source of ultraviolet light.
▪ Wavelength range of (400 nm) to (0.6 nm).
▪ (i)UV radiations are used in LASIK
(Laser assisted in situ keratomileusis) eye surgery.
(ii) UV lamps are used to kill germs in water purifiers.

Why is depletion of ozone layer , a matter of international concern?

Most of the UV rays from sun is absorbed in the ozone layer in the
atmosphere at an altitude of about 40 – 50 km. UV light in large
quantities has harmful effects on humans. Exposure to UV radiation
induces the production of more melanin, causing tanning of the skin.
Ozone layer in the atmosphere plays a protective role, and hence its
depletion by chlorofluoro- carbons (CFCs) gas (such as freon) is a matter
of international concern.

UV radiation is absorbed by ordinary glass. Hence, one cannot get tanned

or sunburn through glass windows. Welders wear special glass goggles
or face masks with glass windows to protect their eyes from large
amount of UV produced by welding arcs.

X-rays
▪ One common way to generate X-rays is to bombard a metal target
by high energy electrons.
▪ Wavelengths from about (10 nm) to (10–4 nm).
▪ X-rays are used as a diagnostic tool in medicine and as a treatment
for certain forms of cancer.
As X-rays damage or destroy living tissues and organisms, care must be
taken to avoid unnecessary or over exposure.

Gamma rays
▪ This high frequency radiation is produced in nuclear reactions and
also emitted by radioactive nuclei.
▪ Gamma rays are the highest frequency range of the
electromagnetic spectrum and have wavelengths of from about 10–
10m to 10–14m.

▪ They are used in medicine to destroy cancer cells.

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Seema Elizabeth
HSST Physics
MARM Govt HSS Santhipuram
Thrissur