Electromagnetic

Waves

Introduction
A changing electric field produces a changing magnetic field and vice versa which gives
rise to a transverse wave known as electromagnetic waves.
The time varying electric field and magnetic field mutually perpendicular to each other
are also perpendicular to the direction of propagation.
Thus the electromagnetic waves consist of sinusoidally time varying electric and
magnetic field acting at right angles to each other as well as at right angles to the
direction of propagation.
KUCH ZARURI
BAATEIN!

Displacement Current

The current produced due to changing electric field (electric displacement) is called
displacement current.
Consider a capacitor C. Let us observe the process of charging the capacitor and apply
Ampere’s Circuital Law -

To find the field at a point P just outside the capacitor, consider a plane circular loop of
radius r with its plane perpendicular to the direction of the current carrying wire. For
symmetry we can say that the field is directed along the circumference of the loop and is of
the same magnitude at all points. Therefore-
Now consider another surface with the same boundary and pot like surface and has its
bottom between the plate of the capacitor and another surface like a tiffin box (all three
parts of the same perimeter). Applying ACL to them, we find that the left side of the
equation has not changed but the right side becomes 0 as no current passes through the
surface. Therefore we conclude a term must be missing from ACL.
To find this missing term, consider the electric field passing between the two plates. Let
the charge on the plates be Q. Area A then the magnitude of field between the plates -

The flux through surface-

Ye erivation aur
fomule exam POV
se zruri hai!

Now if there is any current through the surface of the capacitors, it can be written as,
i = dQ/dt

That is the missing term in Ampere’s circuital law and is called the displacement current.

Thus Maxwell concluded that the source of magnetic field is not just the conduction
current but also the rate of change of electric field w.r.t. time i.e. the total current is
the sum of conduction current and displacement current.
Ampere’s Maxwell Law

The total current passing through any surface of which the closed loop is the perimeter is
the sum of conduction current and the displacement current.

There are regions where there is no conduction current but only displacement current for
e.g. between the plates of a charging/ discharging capacitor and there are regions where
there is only conduction current and no displacement current for e.g. a wire carrying
steady current or outside the capacitor.

Maxwell’s Equation
These Equations
are asked directly
in exams.
(Gauss’s law for electricity)

(Gauss’s law for magnetism)

(Faraday’s law)

(Ampere-Maxwell’s law)
Don’t miss out on this

Electromagnetic Waves topic!

Majority questions
come from here!

Stationary charges produce only electric field. Charges in uniform motion (or steady
currents) produce both electric and magnetic fields. Accelerated charges radiate
electromagnetic waves.
It is an important result of Maxwell’s theory. Thus, an accelerated charge produces
all three electric field, magnetic field and electromagnetic waves.
Consider an oscillating charged particle. Let f is the frequency of its oscillations.
This oscillating charged particle produces an oscillating electric field (of same
frequency f ). Now, this oscillating electric field becomes a source of oscillating
magnetic field (Ampere-Maxwell’s law).
This oscillating magnetic field again becomes a source of oscillating electric field
(Faraday’s law) and so on.
The oscillating electric and magnetic fields regenerate each other and
electromagnetic wave propagates through the space. The frequency of the
electromagnetic wave is equal to the frequency of oscillation of the charge.

Points to remember:

When electromagnetic waves propagate in space then electric and magnetic fields
oscillate in mutually perpendicular directions. Further, they are perpendicular to the
direction of propagation of electromagnetic wave also.
Consider a plane electromagnetic wave propagating along the z-direction. The
electric field Ex is along the x-axis and varies sinusoidally. The magnetic field By is
along the y-axis and again varies sinusoidally. We can write Ex and By as -
Thus and electromagnetic wave travels in the direction of E x B.
From Maxwell’s equations and the knowledge of waves we can write the following
expressions,

where f is the frequency of electromagnetic wave and λ its wavelength.

Unlike a mechanical wave (like sound wave) an electromagnetic wave does not require
any material medium for the oscillations of electric and magnetic fields. They can
travel in vacuum also. Oscillations of electric and magnetic fields are self sustaining
in free space or vacuum.
In a material medium (like glass, water etc.), electric and magnetic fields are
different from the external fields. They are described in terms of permittivity ε0and
magnetic permeability μ0 . In Maxwell’s equations,0 ε and0 μ are thus replaced by ε
and μ and the velocity of light becomes,

Thus, the velocity of light depends on electric and magnetic properties of the medium.
Like other waves, electromagnetic waves also carry energy and momentum. In
previous chapters, we have studied that, energy density in electric field and
energy density in magnetic field .
An electromagnetic wave contains both electric and magnetic field. Therefore,
energy density is associated with both the fields.
Consider a plane perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the
electromagnetic wave. If the total energy transferred to a surface in time t is E,
then total momentum delivered to this surface for complete absorption is

If the wave is totally reflected, the momentum delivered is

The energy transferred per unit area per unit time perpendicular to the direction of
propagation of electromagnetic wave is called the intensity of wave. It is given by

Here, E is the rms value of electric field or Erms .

Consider an EM wave travelling in the z-direction. The electric field Ex is along the
x-axis and magnetic field By along the y-axis. We can write Ex and By as-

Where k is wave number, ω is angular frequency of the wave.

Electromagnetic Spectrum

The basic source of electromagnetic wave is an accelerated charge. This produces the
changing electric and magnetic fields which constitute an electromagnetic wave.
An electromagnetic wave may have its wavelength varying from zero to infinity. Not
all of them are known till date. Today, we are familiar with electromagnetic waves
having wavelengths as small as 30 fm to as large as 30 km.
The boundaries separating different regions of spectrum are not sharply defined,
with visible light ranging from 4000 Å to 7000 Å.
An approximate range of wavelengths associated with each colour are violet (4000 Å
- 4500 Å), blue (4500 Å - 5200 Å), green (5200 Å - 5600 Å), yellow (5600 Å - 6000 Å),
orange (6000 Å - 6250 Å) and red ( 6250 Å - 7000 Å).
The classification of electromagnetic waves according to frequency or wavelength is
called electromagnetic spectrum.
Different types of EM waves:

Gamma Rays: These high frequency radiations are usually produced in nuclear
reactions and also emitted by radioactive nuclei. They are used in medicines to
destroy cancer cells.
X-Rays: X-rays were discovered in 1895 by W.Roentgen. These are produced by the
rapid deceleration of electrons that bombard a heavy metal target. These are also
produced by electronic transitions between the energy levels in an atom. X-rays
are used as a diagnostic tool in medicine and as a treatment for certain forms of
cancer.
Ultraviolet Rays: Ultraviolet radiation is produced by special lamps and very hot
bodies. The sun is an important source of ultraviolet light. It plays an important
role in the production of vitamin-D. But prolonged doses of UV radiation can
induce skin cancers in human beings. Ozone layer in atmosphere at an altitude of
about 40-50 km plays a protective role in this regarding. Depletion of this layer
by chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gas (such as Freon) is a matter of international
concern now a days.
Visible Light: It is most familiar form of electromagnetic waves. Our eye is sensitive
to visible light. Visible light emitted or reflected from objects around us provides
information about world. Process of photosynthesis in plants needs visible light.
Visible light is produced by the transition of electrons in an atom from one
energy level to other.
Infrared Radiation: Infrared rays also sometimes referred as heat waves are
produced by hot bodies. They are perceived by us as heat. In most of the
materials, water molecules are present. These molecules readily absorb infrared
rays. After absorption, their thermal motion increases, i.e. they heat up and heat
their surroundings. Infrared rays are used for early detection of tumors. Infrared
detectors are also used to observe growth of crops and for military purposes.
Microwaves: Microwaves may be generated by the oscillations of electrons in a
device called klystron. Microwave ovens are used in kitchens. In microwave ovens
frequency of the microwaves is selected to match the resonant frequency of water
molecules so that energy from the waves is transferred to the kinetic energy of
the molecules. This raises the temperature of any food containing water.
Radio Waves: Radio waves are generated when charges are accelerating through
conducting wires. They are generated in L C- oscillators and are used in radio and
television communication systems.

Points to remember:
Our eyes are sensitive to visible light (λ between 4000 Å to 7000 Å). Similarly,
different animals are sensitive to different ranges of wavelengths. For example,
snakes can detect infrared waves.
The basic difference between different types of electromagnetic waves lies in their
frequencies and wavelengths. All of them travel with same speed in vacuum.
Further they differ in their mode of interaction with matter. For example
infrared waves vibrate the electrons, atoms and molecules of a substance. These
vibrations increase the internal energy and temperature of the substance. This is
why infrared waves are also called heat waves.
Electromagnetic waves interact with matter via their electric and magnetic fields,
which set in oscillation with the charges present in all matter. This interaction
depends on the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave and the nature of atoms
or molecules in the medium.
Microwave Oven: In electromagnetic spectrum frequency and energy of microwaves
is smaller than the visible light. Water content is required for cooking food in
microwave oven. Almost all food items contain some water content. Microwaves
interact with water molecules and atoms via their electric and magnetic fields.
Temperature of water molecules increases by this. These water molecules share this
energy with neighboring food molecules, heating up the food. Porcelain vessels are
used for cooking food in microwave oven. Because its large molecules vibrate and
rotate with much smaller frequencies and do not get heated up. We cannot use
metal vessels. Metal vessels interact with microwaves. These vessels may melt due to
heating.
Important Q/A and PYQs

Q. The energy density of electromagnetic waves is given by the relation.

Ans. (D)

Q. The speed of the electromagnetic wave in vacuum depends upon the source of
radiation
(a) increases as we move from γ-rays to radio waves.
(b) decreases as we move from γ-rays to radio waves.
(c) is same for all of them
(d) none of the above
Ans. (c) is same for all of them

Q. One requires 11eV of energy to dissociate a carbon monoxide molecule into carbon
and oxygen atoms. The minimum frequency of the appropriate electromagnetic
radiation to achieve the dissociation lies in
(a) visible region
(b) infrared region
(c) ultraviolet region
(d) microwave region
Ans. Given, energy required to dissociate a carbon monoxide molecule into carbon and
oxygen atoms E = 11eV.
We know that, E = hv, where h = 6.62x10 J-s
-34

v = frequency

This frequency belongs to (c) ultraviolet region.

Q. In which direction do the electric and magnetic field vectors oscillate in an

electromagnetic wave propagating along the X-axis?
Ans. E and B are perpendicular to direction of propagation of light. Also, direction of
propagation is parallel to E x B. Hence, E is along j or +Y-axis and B is along k or +Z-
axis.

Q. An electromagnetic wave exerts pressure on the surface on which it is incident.

Justify?
Ans. Yes, electromagnetic waves carry energy and momentum and it is given by,
Momentum, and energy density = .

Q. An electromagnetic wave exerts pressure on the surface on which it is incident.

Justify.
Ans. Electromagnetic wave carries energy and momentum. Since, it has momentum due
to this reason it exerts pressure, called radiation pressure.
Q. Why are infrared waves often called heat waves? Explain.
Ans. Infrared waves have frequencies lower than those of visible light, vibrate not only
the electrons, but also the entire atoms or molecules in the structure of the surface.

Q. What do you understand by the statement, “electromagnetic waves transport

momentum”?
Ans. Electromagnetic waves transports linear momentum as it travels through space. If
an electromagnetic wave transfer a total energy U to a surface in time t, then total
linear momentum delivered to the surface is given as

where, c is the speed of electromagnetic wave.