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Electromagnetic Wave Propagation: by Dr. Malik Abdurazzaq

Electromagnetic waves can propagate via three main modes: ground waves, space or line-of-sight waves, and sky waves. Ground waves follow the contour of the Earth's surface and are useful for frequencies up to 3 MHz. Sky waves are reflected from ionized layers of the atmosphere, allowing long distance communication between 2-30 MHz. Line-of-sight waves travel in straight lines, enabling applications like satellite communication and mobile phones in VHF/UHF bands.

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34 views30 pages

Electromagnetic Wave Propagation: by Dr. Malik Abdurazzaq

Electromagnetic waves can propagate via three main modes: ground waves, space or line-of-sight waves, and sky waves. Ground waves follow the contour of the Earth's surface and are useful for frequencies up to 3 MHz. Sky waves are reflected from ionized layers of the atmosphere, allowing long distance communication between 2-30 MHz. Line-of-sight waves travel in straight lines, enabling applications like satellite communication and mobile phones in VHF/UHF bands.

Uploaded by

MOHAMMAD
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Electromagnetic Wave Propagation

By
Dr. Malik Abdurazzaq
ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES AND
PROPAGATION
• Electromagnetic Wave
▫ Electrical energy that has escaped into free space
▫ Travel in a straight line at approximately the
speed of light and are made up of magnetic and
electric fields that are right angles to each other
and at right angles to the direction of propagation
▫ Essential properties: Frequency, Intensity,
Direction of Travel, Plane of Polarization
• Radio Waves
▫ A form of electromagnetic radiation similar to
light and heat
▫ Differ from other radiations in the manner in
which they area generated and detected and in
frequency range
▫ Consists of traveling electric and magnetic fields
with the energy evenly divided between two types
of fields
CLASSIFICATION OF RADIO WAVES
Based on Frequency:
Ionospher
e (80 - 720
Sky wave km)
Mesosphere
(50 - 80 km)

Space wave Stratosphere


(12 - 50 km)
Ground wave
Troposphere
(0 - 12 km)
Earth
4
DIFFERENT MODES OF PROPAGATION

MODES OF PROPAGATION FREQUENCY APPLICATION

1. Ground waves VLF 1.Submarine Communication


RadioLF
waves 2.AM ,FM and television
MF broadcasting

Ground waves Space w aves or Line Sky waves


2. Space or line of sight waves
of Sight
HF
waves
1.Satellite communication
VHF 2.Mobile communication
UHFDirect wa ves

3. Sky waves Ground refle cted


2Mhz-30Mhz waves link
1.Microwave
2.Radar communication
GROUND WAVE PROPAGATION
 It propagates from transmitter to receiver by gliding over the surface of the
earth in which both antennas are close to the surface of the earth. It follows
the curvature of the earth.

 Earth is assumed to be an ideal conductor ,EM waves cannot penetrate ideal


conductor only exist in dielectric medium above conducting surfa ce that’s
why ground wave propagation is possible.

 The G round waves are traverse in nature. Horizontal polarised ant ennas are
not pr eferred as the horizontal component of the electric field in c ontact with
the earth is short circuited by the earth.
Ground Wave
Propagation
• Follows contour of the earth
• Can Propagate considerable distances
• Frequencies up to 3 MHz
• Example
– AM radio
Ground-Wave
•
Propagati
At frequencies up to about 3 MHz, the most
on method of propagation is by ground waves
important
which are vertically polarized. They follow the
curvature of the earth to propagate far beyond the
horizon. Relatively high power is required.

Direction of wave travel

Increasing
Tilt

Earth
Ground-
Wave
• Radio waves follow the Earth’s surface
• AM broadcasts during the day
• Works best at lower frequencies (40, 80, and
160 meters)
• Relatively short-range communications
Received signal strength
SKY WAVE PROPAGATION
• The sky waves are reflected from ionized layer of atmosphere back down to
the earth surface and is useful for very long range distance communication
• They can travel a number of layers, back and forth between ionosphere and
earth’s surface.
• The sky wave, often called the ionospheric wave.
SKYWAVE PROPAGATION

 S k y wave propagation is also called Ionospheric wave


propagation. E.M waves directed upward at some
angle from the earth’s Surface are called Skywaves.
 S k y wave propagation is usefull in the frequency
range of 2 to 30 MHz and for long distance
communication
 Ionosphere is the upper portion of the atmosphere
between 50km and 350km above the earth,which is
ionoised by absorbing large quantities of radiation
energy from the Sun.
 T h e Major ionisation is from α,β and  radiation from
the Sun and cosmic rays and meter
 It is also called Ionosphere
propagation
 I this mode of propagation
the EM eaves reaches the
receiving point after
reflection from the ionized
region in the upper
atmosphere called
ionosphere.
 Ionosphere is situated
between 50km & 400km
above the earth. It is divided
into three basic layers (D, E
& F) based on ionization
density. F layer is further
divided into F1 and F2 sub
layers.
 Most long-distance  The signal received are
shortwave radio subjected to fading, in
communication—between which signal strength
3 and 30 MHz—is a varies with time.
result of sky  The receiving point, a
wave propagation. large number of waves
 Since the early 1920s follow a different
amateur radio operators number of paths
, limited to lower
transmitter power than
broadcast stations, have
taken advantage of sky
wave for long distance
communication.
Short wave, AM radio
broadcast.
Long distance, point to point
communication.
Extremely long distance
communication using multi-hope
propagation.
FADING OF SIGNAL

 When both ground wave and sky wave signals


are received, fading occurs in those areas where
the signals are of comparable strength and the
area is called as ‘fading zone ’.
 This fading zone should be kept as far away as
possible from the transmitter.
 The optimum antenna that achieves this
objective is of height 0.55λ, where λ is the
wavelength of the operating frequency.
Line-of-Sight
Propagation
Line-of-
Sight
• Signals travel in a straight line from
transmitting to receiving antenna
• Useful in VHF and UHF ranges
• Television, AM/FM broadcast
• Signals are easily reflected, causing problems
with mobile operation
Line-of-Sight
•
Propagation
Transmitting and receiving antennas must be within
line of sight

• Refraction – bending of microwaves by the


atmosphere
– Velocity of electromagnetic wave is a function of the
density of the medium
– When wave changes medium, speed changes
– Wave bends at the boundary between mediums
RADIO HORIZON
The radio horizon of an antenna is defined as the distant points locus at which
antenna’s direct ray become tangential to planetary surface.

Let h1=transmitting antenna’s


height
h2= receiving antenna’s height
a a= radius of the earth
MICROWAVES

 Microwaves—have the shortest wavelengths and the


highest frequency of the radio waves.
 Us e d in microwave ovens.
 Waves transfer energy to the water in the food causing them to
vibrate which in turn transfers energy in the form of heat to the
food.
 Us e d by cell phones and pagers.
 RADAR (Radio Detection and Ranging)
 Used to find the speed of an object by sending out radio waves and
measuring the time it takes them to return.

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