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Electromagnetic Waves
Recommended Problems
Fishbane, Chapter 34, Problems 7,10,14,16,21,24,30
& & B dA ! 0
This says that there are no magnetic monopoles, and that magnetic field lines have no beginning or end.
This says that changing magnetic fields produce an electric potential, or in other words changing magnetic fields produce an electric field.
Maxwells Equations
The equations weve written down here are a form of Maxwells Equations. Maxwell saw that all of these electromagnetic phenomena could be described in a single mathematical framework. The solution to Maxwells equations in a vacuum turns out to be traveling waves both the electric and magnetic field propagate through space in the form of waves.
Electromagnetic Waves
The plane wave solutions to Maxwells Equations have the following form
Maxwells equations tell us several things: The electric and magnetic fields propagate as traveling waves These waves travel at the speed of light. The speed of the waves is given by
v!
1 !c Q0 I 0
The electric and magnetic fields are always perpendicular to each other. & &
E0 B0 ! 0
E ! cB
Electromagnetic Waves
Maxwells equations, published in 1864, had far reaching consequences. They showed in detail how electricity and magnetism were connected. Maxwells equations predicted the existence of electromagnetic waves, which traveled with the speed of light. Maxwell conjectured that light was a form of electromagnetic radiation. In 1887 Heinrich Hertz produced radio waves and from the measured frequency and wavelength confirmed Maxwells conjecture.
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Radio Waves Microwaves Infrared Visible light Ultraviolet X-rays Gamma rays
Example 1
Fishbane, Chapter34, Problem 5 If the electric field for a plane electromagnetic wave is given by
Example 2
Fishbane, Chapter34, Problem 61. Use dimensional analysis to show that
1 Q0 I 0
has the dimensions of speed.
Electromagnetic Energy
Electromagnetic waves carry energy and can transport energy from one place to another. The energy carried by an electromagnetic waves is shared equally between the magnetic field part of the wave and the electric field part of the wave. The average value of the total energy density in the wave is
I 0 E0 1 2 u! ! B0 2 2Q0
We define the intensity of the beam as the energy transported across a surface per unit time per unit area
1 (U I! A (t ! uc
Electromagnetic Energy
The power per unit area delivered by an electromagentic wave to a surface perpendicular to the direction of propagation is
cI 0 E0 E0 B0 c 2 I ! cu ! ! B0 ! 2 2Q0 2Q0
2
Example
The intensity of sunlight on the earths surface is approximately 1 kW/m2. Calculate the energy density of sunlight at the earths surface. Estimate the amplitude of the electric and magnetic fields of the sunlight striking the earth.
To calculate the amplitude of the magnetic field we use the relation E0 !c B0 Thus we obtain E0 B0 ! c 864 ! 8 T 3v 10 ! 2.87 v 10 6 T
I 0E 0 u} 2
Thus we obtain
} 864 V m -1
Example 3
A typical laser pointer has a power of around 0.5 mW and a beam width of around 1mm. Calculate the intensity of the beam. Calculate the amplitude of the electric and magnetic fields of the beam.
Production of EM Waves
Electromagnetic waves are produced by creating an oscillating electric or magnetic field. Charges oscillating in a linear antenna will produce an oscillating electric field. An oscillating electric field will produce an oscillating magnetic field. This produces a wave which travels away from the source with the speed of light.
There are other types of antenna. For example the loop antenna, uses an oscillating current to produce a oscillating magnetic field.