Electromagnetic waves and Maxwells

Equations
Maxwells Synthesis
Changing magnetic field creates
electric field.

B ( x , t )=Bmax cos ( kxt ) k^

Changing electric field creates

magnetic field.

Where - angular frequency = 2f

f- frequency
k- wave number = 2/
wavelength

The continuous changes in both

electric and magnetic fields
propagate in space is known as
ELECTRMOAGNETIC WAVES.

At t =0,

x ,t=0)=Emax cos ( kx )
E(

B ( x , t=0)=Bmax cos ( kx )

Maxwells Equations

Gausss Law for E-field

Energy Flow in EM Waves
Energy flow (S)

Gausss Law for B-field

it is the energy flow per unit time

per unit cross-sectional area.
power per unit area
Mathematically,

S=

Faradays Law

Where U energy
t time
A- cross sectional area
P - power
The unit for the energy flow is
watt/m2.

Amperes Law

Sinusoidal EM Waves in Vacuum

The sine wave equations for E- and
B- fields,

( x ,t )=Emax cos ( kxt ) ^j

E

U P
=
tA A

Energy Density for EM Waves

The energy density of a wave is the
Energy per unit volume.
Energy Density = Energy density of
E-field + Energy density of B-field

ut = ue-field + ub-field

Energy density

1
1
E
1
o E 2+ o B 2 since =c=
B=E o o u =
2
2
B
o o

1
1
o E 2+ o (E o o ) 2
2
2
1
1
o E 2+ o E 2
2
2
o E2

Intensity (Save)

Emax Bmax
2 o

E2

1
1
o c E2max = max = E 2max o
2
2 o c 2
o

EM ratio and the speed of light

E
1
=c=
B
o o
Poynting Vector

1
S = E x B
o
Energy flow

S=

U P EM
= =
= o c E 2
tA A 2 o

1. An electromagnetic wave of
wavelength 435 nm is traveling in
vacuum in the z direction. The
electric field has amplitude 2.70 X
10-3 V/m and is parallel to the xaxis. What are (a) the frequency
and (b) the magnetic-field
amplitude? (c) Write the vector
equations for E(z, t) and B(z, t).
2. A sinusoidal electromagnetic wave
of frequency 6.10 X 1034 Hz travels
in vacuum in the +z-direction. The
B-field is parallel to the y-axis and
has amplitude 5.80 X 10-4 T. Write
the vector equations for E(z, t) and
B(z, t).

Equations needed!

S ave =

SAMPLE PROBLEMS

Substituting B,

ut =

o E

3. An electromagnetic wave with

frequency 5.70 X 1034 Hz
propagates with a speed of 2.17 X
108 m/s in a certain piece of glass.
Find (a) the wavelength of the
wave in the glass; (h) the
wavelength of a wave of the same
frequency propagating in air; (c)
the index of refraction n of the
glass for an electromagnetic wave
with this frequency; (d) the
dielectric constant for glass at this
frequency, assuming that the
relative permeability is unity.
4. We can reasonably model a 75-W
incandescent light-bulb as a sphere
6.0 cm in diameter. Typically, only
about 5% of the energy goes to
visible light; the rest goes largely
to nonvisible infrared radiation. (a)
What is the visible-light intensity
(in W /m2) at the surface of the

bulb? (b) What are the amplitudes

of the electric and magnetic fields
at this surface, for a sinusoidal
wave with this intensity?
5. A sinusoidal electromagnetic wave
from a radio station passes
perpendicularly through an open
window that has area 0.500 m2 At
the window, the electric field of the
wave has rms value 0.0200 V /m.
How much energy does this wave
carry through the window during a
30.O-s commercial?
6. A space probe 2.0 X 1010 m from a
star measures the total intensity of

electromagnetic radiation from the

star to be 5.0 X 103 W/m2 If the
star radiates uniformly in all
directions, what is its total average
power output?