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1. Introduction
a. Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES FROM b. Waves in Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
MAXWELL’S EQUATIONS c. Vector Derivatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
d. Partial Derivatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2. Vector Derivatives
y a. The Gradient Operator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
b. The Divergence Operator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
c. The Curl Operator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
`
cB 3. Maxwell’s Equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
4. Electromagnetic Waves
a. No Charge, No Current; Waves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
b. Plane-Polarized Monochromatic Waves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
x c. Production by a Radio Transmitter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
d. How The Waves Manifest Themselves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
` Acknowledgments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
E Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1
ID Sheet: MISN-0-210
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MISN-0-210 1 MISN-0-210 2
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MISN-0-210 3 MISN-0-210 4
∂2B~ ~
2c. The Curl Operator. The “curl” operator operates on a vector
= −∇ ~ × ∂E .
function, say ~g (x, y, z), to give another vector function: ∂t 2 ∂t
We now put Eqs. (6) and (7) into the right sides of the above two equations
µ ¶ µ ¶ µ ¶
~ × ~g ≡ ∂gy − ∂gx ẑ + ∂gz − ∂gy x̂ + ∂gx − ∂gz ŷ . (3)
∇
∂x ∂y ∂y ∂z ∂z ∂x to get:
1 ∂2E ~
The curl of a function, evaluated at some space-point, gives the greatest − 2 2 =∇ ~ × (∇ ~ × E)
~ , (8)
c ∂t
“circulation” at that point, where by “circulation” one means the line
integral of the function around a loop of infinitesimal radius. The direc- 1 ∂2B ~
− 2 2 =∇ ~ × (∇ ~ × B)
~ , (9)
tion of the curl is normal to the plane of the loop with the greatest line c ∂t
integral.1 To further reduce the above equations, we make use of the identity:2
~ × x3 y 4 z 5 ẑ = 4x3 y 3 z 5 x̂ − 3x2 y 4 z 5 ŷ.
¡ ¢ ¡ ¢ ¡ ¢
¤ Show that: ∇ ~ × (∇
~ × A)
~ = ∇(
~ ∇~ · A)
~ − (∇
~ · ∇)
~ A~ = ∇(
~ ∇~ · A)
~ − ∇2 A
~.
∇ (10)
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MISN-0-210 5 MISN-0-210 6
where the direction of ~k gives the direction of propagation of the electric field to the right of the antenna is as given on this module’s cover. Then
wave and the magnitude of ~k is 2π divided by the wave’s wavelength and use Eqs. (15) tell you the direction of the electric field and the direction
is related to the wave’s frequency through its velocity:3 of propagation of the wave.
2π 1 c 4d. How The Waves Manifest Themselves. Depending on its
k= ; ω = 2πf ; f= = ,
λ T λ frequency, an electromagnetic wave may be a radio or television wave
coming through the air to your receiver, or it could be an X-ray, or a
where ω is the wave’s angular frequency, f is its frequency, T is its period,
gamma ray from a radioactive decay, or a ray of light of a particular color.
c is its speed, and λ is its wavelength.
These objects are all identical waves except for their frequencies.
¤ Show that Eq. (13) satisfies Eq. (12) by direct substitution on both sides
of Eq. (12). Help: [S-2]
Acknowledgments
Now with Eq. (13), Eq. (6) becomes:
Preparation of this module was supported in part by the National
~ = −(~k × E
~ ×E
∇ ~ 0 ) sin(~k · ~r − ωt) , Science Foundation, Division of Science Education Development and
Research, through Grant #SED 74-20088 to Michigan State Univer-
~ which can only be true if the arguments in the
but this equals (∂/∂t)B sity.
cosine functions match:
B ~ 0 cos(~k · ~r − ωt) .
~ =B (14) Glossary
We put the solutions, Eqs. (13) and (14), into Eqs. (11) and (12) and find: • propagation: motion.
~ 0 = 1 (~k × E
B ~ 0 ) = 1 (k̂ × E
~ 0) , • polarization, direction of: in a plane-polarized electromagnetic
ω c wave, the direction of the electric field vector.
so:
• plane-polarization: in an electromagnetic wave, the condition in
Ê0 × B̂0 = k̂ which the electric field vector always lies in the same plane (in con-
E ~0 = 0
~0 · B trast to, say, circular polarization where the electric field vector rotates
(15)
around the axis of propagation).
1
B 0 = E0 .
c • monochromatic: in an electromagnetic wave, the condition of a wave
having a single frequency, a single wavelength (in contrast to being a
¤ Show that the picture on the cover of this module requires all three of mixture of different wavelengths). In a more sophisticated view, it
Eqs. (15). means that there is only one Fourier component.
4c. Production by a Radio Transmitter. A vertical radio trans-
mitter tower is a good example of a device that produces a plane-polarized A. The Curl as a Determinant
monochromatic wave (the frequency of the wave is the frequency to which
you set the dial in order to receive the wave). A large current is sent up Recall that the cross-product ~ and D
of two vectors C ~ can be written
and down the vertical tower, as a sine wave with a single frequency. as the determinant
¯ ¯
¤ Suppose we look at the tower during the part of the cycle when the ¯ x̂ ŷ ẑ ¯
~ ×D ~ =¯
¯ ¯
current is moving upward. Use Ampere’s law to show that the magnetic C ¯ Cx Cy Cz ¯
¯
3 These are general properties of waves: see “The Wave Equation,” (MISN-0-201).
¯ Dx Dy Dz ¯
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MISN-0-210 7 MISN-0-210 PS-1
~ × (B
A ~ × C)
~ = −(A
~ · B)
~ C~ + B(
~ A~ · C)
~ . Ez = 0 .
We only need to prove the identity for one component since the others a. Determine the wavelength, frequency, polarization, and propagation
will follow by cycling the subscripts. So we take the x-component of the vector of the wave. Help: [S-4]
left side: b. Determine the components of the wave’s magnetic field.
Help: [S-1]
~ × (B
[A ~ × C)]
~ x
2. Solve (a) and (b) of Problem 1 for the wave represented by:
~ × C)
= A y (B ~ z − A z (B
~ × C)
~ y
Ex = 0 ,
= Ay (Bx Cy − By Cx ) − Az (Bz Cx − Bx Cz ) £ ¤
= −(Ay By + Az Bz )Cx + Bx (Ay Cy + Az Cz ) Ey = 0.50 (N/C) cos 0.419 m−1 (x − ct) ,
= −(Ax Bx + Ay By + Az Bz )Cx + Bx (Ay Cy + Az Cz + Ax Cx ) £ ¤
Ez = 0.50 (N/C) cos 0.419 m−1 (x − ct) .
~ · B)C
= −(A ~ x + B x (A
~ · C)
~
3. Determine the components of the E-~ and B-fields
~ which describe the
hence: following electromagnetic waves that propagate along the positive x-
~ × (B
~ × C)
~ = −(A
~ · B)
~ C~ + B(
~ A~ · C)
~ axis:
A
~
a. A wave whose plane of E-vibration makes an angles of 45◦ with the
~ for A
so substituting ∇ ~ and B:
~
positive y- and z-axes.
~ × (∇
∇ ~ × C)
~ = −(∇
~ · ∇)
~ C~ + ∇(
~ ∇~ · C)
~ ~
b. A wave whose plane of E-vibration makes an angle of 120◦ with the
~ × (∇
~ × C)
~ = −∇2 C
~ + ∇(
~ ∇~ · C)
~ , positive y axis and an angle of 30.0◦ with the positive z-axis.
∇
and the identity is proved.
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MISN-0-210 PS-2 MISN-0-210 PS-3
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MISN-0-210 PS-4 MISN-0-210 AS-1
F. Ex = 0,
Ey = 0, SPECIAL ASSISTANCE SUPPLEMENT
h ³y ´i
Ez = +E0 cos 2πν +t ,
c S-1 (from PS-Problem 1)
E0 h ³ y ´i For electromagnetic waves, the three important directions are: k̂, the
Bx = − cos 2πν +t ,
c c direction of propagation; Ê, the direction of the electric field; and B̂,
By = 0, the direction of the magnetic field. Any two of these may be known in
a problem and we must find the third. Since these three are mutually
Bz = 0. perpendicular, they obey this cyclic rule:
G. Yes. Ê × B̂ = k̂ ,
H. B0 = E0 /c. k̂ × Ê = B̂ ,
B̂ × k̂ = Ê ,
where each line is obtained from the one above it by cycling the vectors
one place to the right.
~ ~k · ~r) = ~k .
∇(
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MISN-0-210 AS-2 MISN-0-210 ME-1
~ ∂ f (~r, t) = ∂ ∇f
∇ ~ (~r, t) , ~ = x̂ ∂f + ŷ ∂g + ẑ ∂h
∂t ∂t ∇f
∂x ∂y ∂z
where f is any function. ~ · ~g = ∂gx + ∂gy + ∂gz
∇
∂x ∂y ∂z
S-4 (from PS-Problem 1) µ ¶ µ ¶ µ ¶
∂gy ∂gx ∂gz ∂gy ∂gx ∂gz
(~k·~r) is written in the problem as (2.09q
m−1 x). The obvious conclusion is ~ × ~g =
∇ − ẑ + − x̂ + − ŷ
∂x ∂y ∂y ∂z ∂z ∂x
that ky = kz = 0 and hence that k = kx2 + ky2 + kz2 = kx = 2.09 m−1 .
~ × (∇
∇ ~ ∇
~ × ~g ) = −∇2~g + ∇( ~ · ~g ) ; ∇2 ≡ ∇
~ ·∇
~
~ ·E
∇ ~ = 4πke ρ
~ ·B
∇ ~ =0
~
~ = − ∂B
~ ×E
∇
∂t
~
~ = 4πkm j + c−2 ∂ E
~ ×B
∇
∂t
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MISN-0-210 ME-2
4. With:
Brief Answers:
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