Electromagnetic Waves

2.3 Light and Electromagnetic

• Radio waves- radio, television
Radiation
• Microwaves – cell phones, microwave
oven
• Maxwell’s discovery
• Properties of EM radiation • Light waves – infrared, visible, ultraviolet
• Production of EM radiation light
• Spectrum of EM radiation • x-rays – x-ray diffraction, medical x-ray
James Clerk Maxwell

Wave properties of light Speed of Light

Measured values
• Maxwell discovered that light is a form of
electromagnetic radiation. permeability of free space µo = 4πx10-7 T·m/A
• Electromagnetic waves are produced that permittivity of free space εo = 8.85419x10-12 C2/N·m2
propagate through a vacuum at the speed
speed of light c= 2.99792458x108 m/s
of light.
• The speed of light is a fundamental
Predicted value 1
constant. c=2.99792 x108 m/s c= = 2.997924x108 m / s
εoµo
Perfect agreement !!!!

Electromagnetic plane wave

Production of EM waves
Light is a Transverse wave having oscillating Electric and
Magnetic fields. • EM waves are produced by
oscillations of Electric and Magnetic
fields.
Electric field perpendicular
to the direction of propagation
Magnetic field perpendicular Heinrich Hertz
to direction of propagation Showed that electrical oscillation
and to the Electric field. in transmitter produce electromagnetic
waves that propagate to the receiver.

1
 Generation of the E field The magnetic field associated with
by an oscillating dipole antenna the E field

A B field is generated
perpendicular to -
the E field. E

Interactions of EM radiation with an Passage of EM radiation through

Antenna. holes in a conductor
Oscillating Electric field drives the movement of charges in
a conductor
+
E
reflected transmitted

-
• An optimal antenna to capture energy from an EM
wave has a size close λ. (λ/2 for a dipole antenna)
• EM waves pass easily through holes in a conductor that
are larger than λ but are blocked by holes smaller than λ.
• When the size of the hole is close to the λ, interference
and diffraction effects are observed (discussed later).

Radio Waves Microwaves

Fm radio, TV

f ~ 100 MHz f~ 1-10 GHz

λ~1m λ~ 1-10 cm
½ dipole antenna

length =λ/4

2
 Visible Light
Silver nano-particles
f~1015 Hz
λ~ 400-700 nm
stained glass, gold particles
with diameter ~100 nm
scatter specific colors of light

Electron micrograph light micrograph

X-rays
X-rays
f ~ 1016-1020 Hz
λ~ 10-8 -10-12 M X-rays penetrate
soft tissue but
Atomic dimensions are absorbed by
heavy atoms,
x-ray diffraction
pattern such as Calcium
in bones.

3-dimensional
structure