Electromagnetic Theory and Waves

Unit 1
Code: 203058
Electromagnetic waves in open media
Individual work

Presented to the tutor:

Omar Leonardo Leyton

Submitted by the student:

Carlos Alberto Cuartas Velasco
Group: 42

Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia – UNAD

School of Basic Sciences Technology and Engineering
Date October 05 of 2020
City Cali-Valle
1. What does open propagation medium mean for electromagnetic waves?
It is known as an open propagation medium for electromagnetic waves which is made through air,
space, as well as in a vacuum, they do not need a material medium to propagate, such as
electromagnetic waves, visible light, waves of radio, television and telephony.

2. Within the means of propagation, what is understood by loss tangent?

The tangent loss or also called tangent delta, is a parameter that determines the behavior of a
medium. determines the best means to propagate the wave between conductors and dielectrics,
since it allows comparing the magnitude of the conduction current with the displacement current,
the lower the loss tangent, the lower the attenuation suffered by a wave that propagates in said
medium and through Therefore, less power dissipated.

3. How is the propagation medium classified from the tangent of losses?

It is possible to classify the medium according to the loss tangent according to its Angle, it is
classified like this:

 Perfect dielectrics
 Perfect drivers
 Good insulators or dielectrics with low losses
 Good drivers
 Dissipative dielectrics

4. What are the propagation parameters of the waves through a medium?

The wave propagation parameters are:

 Propagation constant (gamma)
 Attenuation constant (alpha)
 Phase constant (beta)
 Intrinsic impedance (eta)
Application exercise:
The following 5-step exercise describes the method to characterize an electromagnetic wave when
propagating in an open environment, for which, each student must choose 1 propagation media of
the 5 proposed in Table 1 and announce it within the Task 1 forum to avoid repetition.
Table 1: Conductivity σ and electrical permittivity ε rof some media

Media σ [S /m] εr [ ]
1. Copper 5.80 x 107 1
2. Sea water 4 80
3. Vegetable soil 1.00 x 10−2 14
4. Dry soil 1.00 x 10−4 3
5. Sweet water 1.00 x 10−3 80
ε =ε r ε o ; ε o =8.8542 x 10−12 C 2 / N m2

Calculate the tangent of losses Tan (δ) and the angle of losses δ of the medium chosen in Table 1,
if through it travel an electromagnetic wave E of frequency f =(CCC+10) MHz. Note that CCC are
the last 3 digits of your identification number.
σ σ
tan ( δ )= =
ω ε 2 πf ε r ε o

Then CCC=163
Then: f =( 163+10 ) MHz=173 MHz=173 x 106 Hz
Selected propagation medium: sweet water
−3 S
Copper conductivity: σ =1.00 x 10
m
Copper electrical permittivity: ε r=80
S
1.00 x 10−3
σ σ m
tan ( δ )= = =
ω ε 2 πf ε r ε o 2 π∗173 x 106 Hz∗80∗8.8542 x 10−12 C 2 /N m2

Note that ω=2 πf and ε =ε r ε o

Calculation:

Figure 1: operation 1 on a virtual scientific calculator.

σ σ
tan ( δ )= = =0.001298
ω ε 2 πf ε r ε o
2. According to the result obtained in point 1, classify the behavior of the chosen medium
according to one of the 5 options in Table 2:

Table 2: Classification of propagation media.

Media Tan(δ) δ [°]

1. Perfect dielectrics (Not dissipative) Tan(δ) = 0 δ = 0°
2. Good insulators (Lost low dielectric) 0 < Tan(δ) <= 0,1 0° < δ <= 6°
3. Dissipative dielectrics (Dielectrics with losses) 0,1 < Tan(δ) <= 10 6° < δ <= 84°
4. Good conductors (Good conductors) Tan(δ) > 10 84°< δ < 90°
5. Perfect conductors (Perfect conductors) Tan(δ) >>> 10 δ = 90°

Interpretation: According to the concept of Tangent of losses, explain the meaning of the value
obtained fortan ( δ ).

The loss tangent allows me to identify ...

3. According to the classification obtained in point 2 and using Table 3 shown below, calculate the
following propagation parameters of the wave in the chosen medium:
a. Propagation constant  (gamma).
b. Attenuation constant  (Alpha).
c. Phase constant  (Beta).
Table 3: Propagation parameters in open media.

Parameter Not dissipative Lost low dielectric Dielectrics with losses Good conductors
γ jω √ με jω √ με √ jωμ(σ + j ωε) √ jω σ μo
α 0 ση/2 ℜ¿) √ πf σ μ o
β ω √ με ω √ με ℑ() √ πf σ μ o
η √ μ/ε √ μ/ε √ jω μ/( σ+ j ωε) √ jω μo /σ

μ=μ r μ o ; μ r=1 ( non−magnetic media ) ; μ o=1.2566 x 10−6 T m/ A

γ = √ jωμ(σ + jωε)=√ j 2 πf μ r μ o (σ + j2 πf ε r ε o )=.. .

Note that ω=2 πf , μ=μ r μ o and ε =ε r ε o

Propagation constant  (gamma).

ω=2 πf =2 π ( 173 x 106 Hz ) =108699105 8

m
(
μ=μ r μ o=( 1 ) 1.2566 x 10−6 T
A )
=1.2566 x 10−6 T m/ A

−12 2
8.8542 x 10 C
ε =ε r ε o= ( 80 ) ( N m2 )=7.08336 x 10−10

γ = jω √ με
γ =32.429 j
Calculation:
 Figure 2: operation 2 on a virtual scientific calculator.

Attenuation constant  (Alpha).

Note that σ =1.00 x 10−3 S/m

Then α =ση /2
But first

η=√ μ /ε

1.2566 x 10−6 T m/ A
η=
√ 7.08336 x 10−10
η=42.1190

Now

( 1.00 x 10−3 S/m ) ( 42.1190 )

α=
2
α =0.02105

Calculation:

Figure 3: operation 3 on a virtual scientific calculator.

Phase constant  (Beta).

ω=2 πf =2 π ( 173 x 106 Hz ) =1086991058

m
(
μ=μ r μ o=( 1 ) 1.2566 x 10−6 T
A )
=1.2566 x 10−6 T m/ A

8.8542 x 10−12 C 2
ε =ε r ε o= ( 80 ) ( Nm 2 )=7.08336 x 10−10

¿ ω √ με=1.086∗109 √1.2566∗10−6∗7.08336∗10−10
¿ 32.429
Calculation:

Figure 4: operation 4 on a virtual scientific calculator.

4. According to the results obtained in point 3 and using the following equations, calculate the
propagation characteristics of the wave in the chosen medium:
a. Propagation speed v p .
b. Wavelength λ.
c. The penetration depth of the δ pwave in the medium.

Perform the operation on a virtual scientific calculator, paste the image of the operation on the
report, then write the final result including the units.
 ω 1.086∗109 6
V p= = =33.55∗10
β 32.429
2π 2π
λ= = =0.1937
β 32.429
1 1
δ p= = =47.48
|α | |0.02105|

Figure 3: operation 3 on a virtual scientific calculator.

Application example

The use of electromagnetic waves in the water, to transmit signals between the nodes of the
network, is characterized by being a fast and efficient communication. In addition, electromagnetic
waves in the radio frequency (RF) band have several advantages over acoustic waves, mainly
because it is faster and can be used at the highest working frequencies (which translates into a
greater width of band). However, there are several factors that limit the use of EM waves in water.
EM waves in fresh water. Fresh water is a medium that has low loss. The speed of propagation c of
the signals can be expressed by the following approximation.
1
C=
√μ
Where ε represents the dielectric constant and µ refers to the magnetic permeability of the material
(in this case water). Its value has no significant change for most non-magnetic media. The dielectric
constant of a material is generally expressed in relation to the permittivity of vacuum, which is
called the relative permittivity (also called the dielectric constant). The absolute permittivity is
calculated by multiplying the relative permittivity by the permittivity of vacuum.
ε =ε r ε r =( 1+ X e ) ε 0

Where X e represents the electrical susceptibility of a material. On the other hand, the magnetic
permeability of a substance is the product of the relative magnetic permeability and the magnetic
permeability of materials in free space.
μ=μ r μ r

The magnetic permeability in free space is given by the equation:

μ0=4 π∗10−7 N / A2

Despite the fact that the dielectric constant of water is approximately 81, the speed of propagation
of the signals is reduced by a factor of 9 with respect to the speed of light in a vacuum. However,
this speed is much higher than the speed of acoustic waves (more than 4 orders of magnitude). The
absorption coefficient α for the spread of EM in fresh water can be approximated by the expression:

σ μ
a=
2 √ ε
Where σ is the electrical conductivity, ε is again the material permittivity and µ the magnetic
permittivity of the material. As can be seen in the expressions of the propagation velocity and the
absorption coefficient of fresh water, they are independent of the working frequency of the
transmitted signals.
For the above, it can be said that fresh water is a means of propagation with less dispersion than that
of the sea, which presents large losses.
This system is used in special communication is used by the naval forces when they carry out
activities in freshwater rivers
Bibliographies

 Quesada-Pérez, M., & Maroto-Centeno, J. (2014). From Maxwell's Equations to Free and
Guided Electromagnetic Waves: An Introduction for First-year Undergraduates. New York:
Nova Science Publishers, Inc. (pp. 46-60). Recovered from
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live&scope=site&ebv=EB&ppid=pp_49

 Chen, W. (2005). The Electrical Engineering Handbook. Boston: Academic Press. (pp. 513-
519). Recovered from http://bibliotecavirtual.unad.edu.co:2048/login?
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 Wiley, J. & Sons Ltd. (2003). Electromagnetic Wave Propagation. Fixed Broadband
Wireless. (pp. 25-70). Recovered from http://bibliotecavirtual.unad.edu.co:2048/login?
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 Gutiérrez, W. (2017). Loss Tangent [Video]. Recovered from

http://hdl.handle.net/10596/13139

 Leyton L., & Quintero, D. (2019). Characterization of electromagnetic waves in open media.
[Video]. Recovered from https://repository.unad.edu.co/handle/10596/30439