MODULE 1

ELECTROMAGNETIC
WAVES

S.Y. 2020 - 2021

ILOILO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY

Prepared by: JOEMAR D. ASORIAS

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Introduction:
In this module we’ll use Maxwell’s equations as the theoretical basis for understanding
electromagnetic waves. We’ll find out how these equations show a time varying magnetic field that act
as a source of electric field and a time varying electric field that act as a source of magnetic field and
how these fields can sustain each other forming an electromagnetic wave that propagates through space.
Well also find out the sources and differentiate different types of electromagnetic waves.

Module Outcomes
At the end of this module, the student should be able to;
1. Used this module to study repeatedly to understand clearly about the nature of
electromagnetic waves and how Maxwell used his equations to prove the existence of
electromagnetic waves.

Lesson I: ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES:

Lesson Outcomes:
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to,
1. Defined and described electromagnetic waves using Maxwell’s equations
2. Differentiated different types of electromagnetic waves.
3. Solved problems about electromagnetic waves

PRE – TEST 1:

Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answer before each number.

_____1. Which one of the following scientists made the theoretical prediction that electromagnetic
waves travel through a vacuum at the speed of light?
a. Hertz b. Faraday c. Maxwell d. Lenz

_____2. Maxwell developed his theory of electromagnetism by combining previous discoveries. He

added his own original hypothesis that:
a. electric charges produce electric fields.
b. moving electric charges produce magnetic fields.
c. changing electric fields produce magnetic fields.
d. changing magnetic fields produce electric fields.

_____3. Maxwell guessed that visible light was an electromagnetic wave because of its:
a. frequency b. wavelength c. speed d. energy.

_____4. Which condition of motion must be met with regard to a charged particle if it is in the process
of emitting electromagnetic radiation?
a. moves at constant velocity b. accelerates
c. moves at the speed of light d. moves parallel to a uniform magnetic field

_____5. The electric field, in an electromagnetic wave is oriented in what direction with respect to its
associated magnetic field?
a. parallel to b. anti-parallel to
c. perpendicular to d. at a 45° angle to

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 _____6. In order of increasing frequency, which of the following is correct?
a. visible, radio, ultraviolet and x-ray
b. infrared, visible, ultraviolet and gamma
c. visible, gamma, ultraviolet and x-ray
d. infrared, x-ray, visible and gamma
_____7. In order to keep its food hot, a restaurant will place it under which type of lamp?
a. infrared b. visible light
c. ultraviolet d. x-ray
_____8. Glass panes are opaque to a certain type of radiation, which passes through quartz. What type
of radiation is it? This radiation is important in ozone layer reactions.
a. microwave b. gamma
c. x-ray d. ultraviolet
_____9. A radio wave signal, which transmits at a frequency of 7.20 MHz, has what wavelength?
(c = 3.00 x 108 m/s)
a. 41.7 m b. 4.17 m
c. 28.8 m d. 2.4 x 10-2 m
_____10. A radar pulse sent out to an airplane at a distance of 20.0 km will return as an echo to the
source in what time interval? (c = 3.00 x 108 m/s)
a. 33.3 x 10-6 s b. 66.7 x 10-6 s
c. 133 x 10-6 s d. 0.033 3 x 10-6 s

Answer to Pre – Test 1:

1. C 2. C 3. C 4. B 5. C 6. C 7. C 8. C 9. C 10.C

Key Concepts: ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES:

Section 1: Maxwell’s Equations and Electromagnetic Waves

 When electric fields don’t vary with time, such as and electric field produced by
charges at rest or the magnetic field of a steady current, the electric and magnetic fields
independently without considering any interactions between them. But when the field
vary with time, they are no longer independent
 Faraday’s Law tells us that a time varying magnetic fields acts as a source of electric
field
 Maxwell’s Equations: Described mutual interaction between the two fields (Electric and
Magnetic fields). Thus when either an electric or a magnetic field is changing with time,
a field of the other kind is induced in adjacent regions of space.

*Maxwell’s First Equation: Gauss’s law for electric field:

𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: Electric flux through a

closed surface is

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 proportional to the charged
enclosed

*Maxwell’s Second Equation: Gauss’s law for magnetic fields showing the absence of
magnetic monopoles

𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: The total magnetic flux through a

closed surface is zero

*Maxwell’s Third equation: Amperes law including the displacement current discovered
by Maxwell shows that a time varying electric field acts as a source of magnetic field.

𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: Electric current and

changing electric flux
produces a magnetic
field

*Maxwell’s Fourth Equation: Faraday’s Law

𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: Changing magnetic flux

produces an electric field

 Maxwell’s Equation predict the existence of electromagnetic waves that propagate

in vacuum at the speed of light c.

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  Electromagnetic Wave is an electromagnetic disturbances that exists consisting of
time varying electric and magnetic fields that can propagate through space from one
region to another even when there is no matter in the intervening region traveling at
the speed of light c

Where: 𝛜 = permittivity of free space

µ = permeability of free space

 Every instant the ratio of the magnitude of the electric field to the magnitude of the
magnetic field in an electromagnetic wave equals the speed of light.

𝑬
=𝒄
𝑩

 The components of the electric and magnetic fields of plane electromagnetic waves
are perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the direction of wave
propagation(E x B).

⃗
 Maxwell’s equations shows that, a point charge at rest produces a static electric field 𝐄
⃗ and a point charge moving with a constant velocity produces
but no magnetic field 𝐁
⃗ and 𝐁
both 𝐄 ⃗ fields.

 It also shows that for a point charge to produce electromagnetic waves, the charge must
accelerate in harmonic motion.

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 Oscillating charge up and down emits waves unequally in all direction, thus waves
(electromagnetic radiation) is stronger at 900 to the axis of its motion and no waves
along its axis.

 Every accelerated charge radiates electromagnetic energy

Every mobile phones, wireless modem, or radio

transmitter emits signals in the form of
electromagnetic waves that are made by
accelerating charges.

Power lines carry a strong alternating current,

which means that a substantial amount of charge
is accelerating back and forth and generating
electromagnetic waves. These waves can produce
a buzzing sound from your car radio when you
drive near the lines

 Heinrich Hertz – a German physicist also shows that

an oscillating charge in L-C circuits produces
electromagnetic waves that can be detected with the
other circuits tuned with the same frequency and
establishes its speed at 3.0x108 m/s same as with the
speed of light

𝒗 = 𝝀𝒇

where: 𝒗 − speed
𝝀 − wavelength
𝒇 − frequency

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Section 1.2: Electromagnetic Wave Spectrum:
Note: Remember that all forms of the various types of radiation are produced by the same phenomenon
accelerating charges.

Radio waves:
 They are generated by such electronic devices as LC oscillators and are used in radio and
television communication systems.

Microwaves:
 Due to their short wavelengths, they are well suited for radar systems and for studying the
atomic and molecular properties of matter.
 Microwave ovens are an interesting domestic application of these waves.

Infrared waves:
 Energy absorbed by a substance appears as internal energy because the energy agitates the
atoms of the object, increasing their vibrational or translational motion, which results in a
temperature increase.
 Infrared radiation has practical and scientific applications in many areas, including physical
therapy, IR photography, and vibrational spectroscopy.

Visible light:
 Is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that the human eye can detect.
 Light is produced by the rearrangement of electrons in atoms and molecules.
 The various wavelengths of visible light, which correspond to different colors, range from
red to violet

Wavelengths of Visible Light:

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Ultraviolet waves:
 The Sun is an important source of ultraviolet (UV) light, which is the main cause of
sunburn. Sunscreen lotions are transparent to visible light but absorb most UV light. The
higher a sunscreen’s solar protection factor (SPF), the greater the percentage of UV light
absorbed.

X-rays:
 The most common source of x-rays is the stopping of high-energy electrons upon
bombarding a metal target.
 X-rays are used as a diagnostic tool in medicine and as a treatment for certain forms of
cancer.
 X-rays are also used in the study of crystal structure because x-ray wavelengths are
comparable to the atomic separation distances in solids

Gamma rays:
 Electromagnetic waves emitted by radioactive nuclei and during certain nuclear reactions.
 High-energy gamma rays are a component of cosmic rays that enter the Earth’s atmosphere
from space.
 They are highly penetrating and produce serious damage when absorbed by living tissues.

Check your Understanding:

Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answer before each number.

_____1. Which one of the following scientists made the theoretical prediction that electromagnetic
waves travel through a vacuum at the speed of light?
a. Hertz b. Faraday c. Maxwell d. Lenz

_____2. Maxwell developed his theory of electromagnetism by combining previous discoveries. He

added his own original hypothesis that:
a. electric charges produce electric fields b. moving electric charges produce magnetic fields.
c. changing electric fields produce magnetic fields. d. changing magnetic fields produce electric fields.

_____3. Maxwell guessed that visible light was an electromagnetic wave because of its:
a. frequency b. wavelength c. speed d. energy.

_____4. Which condition of motion must be met with regard to a charged particle if it is in the
process of emitting electromagnetic radiation?
a. moves at constant velocity b. accelerates
c. moves at the speed of light d. moves parallel to a uniform magnetic field

_____5. The electric field, in an electromagnetic wave is oriented in what direction with respect to
its associated magnetic field?
a. parallel to b. anti-parallel to c. perpendicular to d. at a 45° angle to

_____6. In order of increasing frequency, which of the following is correct?

a. visible, radio, ultraviolet and x-ray
b. infrared, visible, ultraviolet and gamma

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 c. visible, gamma, ultraviolet and x-ray
d. infrared, x-ray, visible and gamma

_____7. In order to keep its food hot, a restaurant will place it under which type of lamp?
a. infrared b. visible light c. ultraviolet d. x-ray

_____8. Glass panes are opaque to a certain type of radiation, which passes through quartz. What
type of radiation is it? This radiation is important in ozone layer reactions.
a. microwave b. gamma
c. x-ray d. ultraviolet

_____9. A radio wave signal, which transmits at a frequency of 7.20 MHz, has what wavelength?
(c = 3.00 x 108 m/s)
a. 41.7 m b. 4.17 m c. 28.8 m d. 2.4 x 10-2 m

_____10. A radar pulse sent out to an airplane at a distance of 20.0 km will return as an echo to the
source in what time interval? (c = 3.00 x 108 m/s)
a. 33.3 x 10-6 s b. 66.7 x 10-6 s c. 133 x 10-6 s d. 0.033 3 x 10-6 s

End of Module 1