2022 - 2023

ELECTROMAGNETIC
WAVES

TANISHA DANGWAL
XII - A
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to take hold of this opputunity to show my immense
gratitude to the salient people who brought this project to an end,
without their help it would have been impossible to finish this
project.

First and foremost I wish to thank my Principal Mrs.Christobel

Stevenson and my Physics teacher Mrs.Kavita Gupta under
whose guidance I have learned a lot about this project. Their
suggestions and directions have really helped in the completion
of this project.

Then I would thank my parents and family for giving their

valuable inputs in this project. Lastly I thank each and every
single one of you who I forgot to mention. Your extraordinary
contributions were of great importance bring this project to and
end.

INDEX

1.INTRODUCTION

2.DISPLACEMENT CURRENT

3.MAXWELL’S EQAUTIONS
4.SOURCES OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

5.NATURE OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

6.PROPERTIES OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

7.ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

INTRODUCTION
The phenomenon of Faraday’s electromagnetic induction
concludes that a changing magnetic field at a point with time
produces an electric field at that point. Maxwell, pointed out
that there is a symmetry in nature (i.e) changing electric field
with time at a point produces a magnetic field at that point. It
means that a change in one field with time (either electric or
magnetic) produces another field. This idea led Maxwell to
conclude that the variation in electric and magnetic fields
perpendicular to each other, produces electromagnetic disturbances in
space. These disturbances have the properties of a
wave and propagate through space without any material medium.
These waves are called electromagnetic waves.They travel in
vacuum or free space with a velocity 3 × 108 .

DISPLACEMENT CURRENT
We know that an electric current produces a magnetic field
around it. Maxwell showed that a changing electric field must
also produce a magnetic field.To see how a changing electric
field gives rise to a magnetic field, let us consider the process of
charging of a capacitor .To find the magnetic field at a point
outside the capacitor, let us apply
Ampere’s circuital law.

Consider a parallel plate capacitor C which is a part of circuit

through which a time-dependent current i (t ) flows.

To find the magnetic field at a point P, in a region outside the

parallel plate capacitor, let us consider a plane circular loop of
radius r whose plane is perpendicular to the direction of the
current-carrying wire, and which is centred symmetrically with
respect to the wire. By symmetry, the magnetic field is directed along
the circumference of the circular loop and is the same in magnitude
at all points on the loop. If B is the magnitude of the field, then

Now, consider a different surface, which has the same boundary.

This is a pot like surface as shown as in figure (b), which nowhere
touches the current, but has its bottom between the capacitor
plates, whose mouth is the circular loop mentioned above.
Consider another such surface which is shaped like a tiffin box
(without the lid) as in figure (c).
On applying Ampere’s circuital law to such surfaces with the same
perimeter, we find that the LHS term in equn (2) is the same, but
the RHS term is zero, since no current passes through the surfaces.
Calculating by one way, there is a magnetic
field at point P. Calculating by another way, the magnetic field at
point P is zero. Hence, Ampere’s circuital law must be missing
something.
The missing term is due to the passage of electric field through the
surface S between the plates of the capacitor.
If A → area of the plates of the capacitor and
Q → total charge on each plate of the capacitor,
The electric field E between the plates is given by

This field is perpendicular to the surface S in

figure (c). It has the same magnitude over the
area A of the capacitor plates.
Using Gauss’s law, the electric flux through the surface S is given
by
Since the charge Q on the capacitor plates changes with time, there
is a current i which is given by

This is the missing term in Ampere’s circuital law. The current given by
equn (5) is due to changing electric field (or electric displacement ).
Hence, it is called ‘Displacement Current’. The current carried by
conductors due to flow of charges is called ‘ 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 denoted by ic , and
displacement current denoted by id .

\
Outside the capacitor plates, we have only conduction current = i, and
no displacement current, i.e., = 0. On the other hand, inside the
capacitor, there is no conduction current, i.e., = 0, and there is only
displacement current, so that = i. Hence, B at a point P outside the plates
is the same at a point M between the plates.
The generalised Ampere’s circuital law is given by
This equation is called Ampere - Maxwell law.

MAXWELL EQUATIONS
 SOURCES OF ELECTROMAGNETIC
WAVES

Consider a charge oscillating with some frequency 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 wave propagates through the
space . The frequency of the electromagnetic wave
naturally equals the frequency of oscillation of the charge.
The energy associated with the propagating wave comes at
the expense of the energy of thesource – the accelerated
charge.

NATURE OF ELECTROMAGNETIC
WAVES
From Maxwell’s equations, it is found that electric and
magnetic fields in an electromagnetic wave are
perpendicular to each other, and to the direction of
propagation. A typical example of a plane electromagnetic
wave propagating along the z direction(the fields are
shown as a function of the z coordinate, at a given time t).
The electric
field is along the x-axis, and varies sinusoidally with z, at a
given time. The magnetic field is along the y-axis, and
again varies sinusoidally with z. The electric and magnetic
fields and are perpendicular to each other.

E → Electric Field ( along X-axis )

B → Magnetic Field ( along Yaxis )
Electromagnetic Waves along Z-axis
PROPERTIES OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

1. Electromagnetic waves are produced by accelerated

charges.
2. They do not require any material medium for
propagation.
3. In an electromagnetic wave, the electric ( E ) and
magnetic field vectors are at right angles to each other and
to the direction of propagation. Hence electromagnetic
waves are transverse in nature.
4.Variation of maxima and minima in both E and B occur
simultaneously.
4. EM waves can be diffracted, refracted and polarised.
They travel in vacuum or free space with a
velocity 3 × 108 m −1. It is given by the relation

where, 0→ permeability of free space and 0→

permittivity of free space

5.Electromagnetic waves possess energy and

momentum. Hence EM waves exert pressure
called ‘radiation pressure’.

ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
Electromagnetic spectrum is an orderly distribution of
electromagnetic waves in terms of wavelength or
frequency .
Electromagnetic spectrum covers a wide range of
wavelengths (or) frequencies. There is no sharp division
between one kind of wave and the next. The overlapping in
certain parts of the spectrum shows that the particular
wave can be produced by different methods. We briefly
describe these different types of electromagnetic waves, in
order of decreasing wavelengths or increasing frequencies.
1. Radio waves
2. Micro waves
3. Infra red waves
4. Visible rays
5. Ultra violet rays
6. X-rays
7. Gamma rays

RADIO WAVES :
(1) Radio waves are produced by the accelerated motion of
charges
in conducting wires.
(2) They are used in radio and television communication
systems.
(3) They are generally in the frequency range from 500 kHz to
about 1000 MHz.
(4) The AM (amplitude modulated) band is from 530 kHz to
1710
kHz.
(5) Higher frequencies upto 54 MHz are used for short wave
bands.
(6) TV waves range from 54 MHz to 890 MHz.
(7) The FM (frequency modulated) radio band extends from 88
MHz to 108 MHz.
(8) Cellular phones use radio waves to transmit voice
communication in the ultrahigh frequency (UHF) band

MICRO WAVES:
(1) Microwaves are short-wavelength radio waves, with
frequencies
in the gigahertz (GHz) range.(2) They are produced by special
vacuum tubes (called klystrons,
magnetrons and Gunn diodes).
(3) Due to their short wavelengths, they are suitable for the radar
systems used in aircraft navigation.
(4) Radar also provides the basis for the speed guns used to time
fast
balls, tennis serves, and automobiles.
(5) Micro waves are used in very long distance wireless
communication through satellites.
(6) Micro waves are used in micro wave oven to cook food.
Working: It is used to cook the food in a short time. When the
oven
is operated, the microwaves are generated, which in turn produce
a
non−uniform oscillating electric field. The water molecules in
the
food which are the electric dipoles are excited by an oscillating
torque. Hence few bonds in the water molecules are broken, and
heat energy is produced. This is used to cook food.

INFRA RED WAVES:

(1) Infrared waves are produced by hot bodies and molecules.
(2) This band lies adjacent to the low-frequency or long-wave
length
end of the visible spectrum.
(3) Infrared waves are sometimes referred to as heat waves’.‘
(4) Infrared lamps are used in physical therapy.
(5) Infrared radiation also plays an important role in maintaining
the
earth’s warmth or average temperature through the greenhouse
effect.(6) Infrared detectors are used in Earth satellites, both for
military
purposes and to observe growth of crops.
(7) Electronic devices (for example semiconductor light emitting
diodes) also emit infrared and are widely used in theremote
switches of household electronic systems such as TV sets, video
recorders and hi-fi systems.

VISIBLE RAYS:
(1) It is the part of the spectrum that is detected by the human
eye.
(2) Its frequency ranges from about 4 × 1014 Hz to about 7 × 1014
Hz or a wavelength range of about 700 nm to 400 nm.
(3) Visible light emitted or reflected from objects around us
provides us information about the world.(4) It is produced by
incandescent bodies.

ULTRA VIOLET RAYS:

(1) It covers wavelengths ranging from about 4 × 10−7 m (400
nm)
down to 6 × 10−10 m (0.6 nm). (2) Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is
produced by special lamps and very
hot bodies.
(3) The Sun is an important source of ultraviolet light.
(4) UV light in large quantities has harmful effects on humans.
(5) UV radiation is absorbed by ordinary glass. ( Application:
Welders wear special glass goggles or face masks with glass
windows to protect their eyes from large amount of UV
produced
by welding arcs )
(6) Due to its shorter wavelengths, UV radiations can be
focussed
into very narrow beams for high
precision applications such as LASIK () eye surgery.
(7) UV lamps are used to kill germs in water purifiers.

X-RAYS:
(1) X-rays lie beyond the UV region of the electromagnetic
spectrum.
(2) It covers wavelengths from about 10−8 m (10 nm) down to
10−13 m (10−4 nm).
(3) X-rays are used as a diagnostic tool in medicine and as a
treatment for certain forms of cancer.
(4) X-rays damage or destroy living tissues and organisms.
(5) One common way to generate X-rays is to bombard a metal
target by high energy
GAMMA RAYS:
Laser assisted in situ kerato mileusis(1) They lie in the upper
frequency range of the electromagnetic
spectrum and have wavelengths from about 10−10 m to less
than 10−14 m.
(2) They are the high frequency radiation produced in nuclear
reactions and also emitted by radioactive nuclei..
(3) They are used in medicine to destroy cancer cells.

BIBILIOGRAPHY

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_radiation

https://science.nasa.gov/ems/02_anatomy

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/light-waves/
introduction-to-light-waves/a/light-and-the-electromagnetic-
spectrum

https://www.britannica.com/science/electromagnetic-
spectrum
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/
electromagnetic-wave

https://www.toppr.com/guides/physics/electromagnetic-
waves/introduction-electromagnetic-waves/

https://openpress.usask.ca/physics155/chapter/13-5-the-
electromagnetic-spectrum/