UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL ABIERTA Y A DISTANCIA UNAD

Escuela de Ciencias Básicas, Tecnología e Ingeniería

Teoría Electromagnética y Ondas
2020-04-08

Introduction
 Questions: (write with your own words)

1. What are the modes of propagation of electromagnetic waves?

The propagation modes refer to each of the possible configurations adopted by the electromagnetic

waves that travel through the waveguide. It is characterized by satisfying certain border conditions.

In theory there are an infinite number of modes of propagation and each has its cutoff frequency from

which it exists. The propagation modes depend on the wavelength, its polarization and the
 dimensions of the guide. As each mode has an associated cutoff frequency, the frequency of the

signal to be transmitted must be greater than the cutoff frequency, thus the electromagnetic energy

will be transmitted through the guide without attenuation. The transverse modes are:

Electric transverse mode

Magnetic transverse mode

Electromagnetic transverse mode

2. What does it mean to polarize an electromagnetic wave?

Electromagnetic polarization is a property of waves that can oscillate in more than one orientation.

This normally refers to the so-called transverse waves, in particular electromagnetic waves are

usually referred to, although it can also occur in transverse mechanical waves. On the other hand, the

sound waves in a gas or liquid are exclusively longitudinal waves in which the oscillation always

goes in the direction of the wave; so there is no talk of polarization in this type of wave. Transverse

waves that exhibit polarization include electromagnetic waves such as light, radio waves,

gravitational waves, and transverse sound waves. Shear waves in solids.

3. What is the phenomenon of total reflection of an electromagnetic wave?

When it occurs, this phenomenon is known as total reflection, because for angles of incidence greater

than the limit angle, the ray does not refract, producing only the phenomenon of reflection.

Like any other wave light, when it reaches the surface of

separation of two different media, part is reflected, returning to the same medium although changing

direction, and part passes to the second medium where it is partially refracted and absorbed.
 The reflection of light occurs when, when hitting an obstacle, it experiences a change of direction or

direction, returning by the same means that it propagated.

If the surface has irregularities, it is diffuse reflection and

if the surface is smooth and polished, mirror or metal is specular reflection. The two laws of

reflection are followed.

The incident beam, the normal beam, and the reflected beam are in the same plane.

The angle between the incident ray and the normal angle of

incidence is equal to the angle formed by the reflected ray with the normal reflection angle.

4. What is the phenomenon of total refraction of an electromagnetic wave?

Refraction is the change in direction and speed that a wave undergoes when passing from one

medium to another with a different refractive index, although the phenomenon of refraction is

frequently observed in electromagnetic waves such as light, the concept is applicable to any type of

wave.

The speed of light is a finite magnitude that has a different value depending on the medium in which

it propagates. In a vacuum is where light travels at a higher speed, in any other medium this speed is

lower. A means by which an electromagnetic wave can propagate is characterized by its refractive

index, n, a dimensionless quantity that is defined as the quotient between the speed of light in a

vacuum, c and the speed in that medium, v.

c
n=
v

From the definition it follows that all media, except vacuum, have a refractive index greater than

unity.
 5. What is the purpose of Snell's Law in the study of the propagation of waves?

Snell's law, in a formula used to know the relationship between the path taken by a ray of light when

crossing the limit or the separation surface between two substances in contact and the refractive

index of each one of they. This law was discovered in the year 1621 by the Dutch astronomer and

mathematician Willebrord Snell. Snell's account of the law was not published until Christiaan

Huygens mentioned it in his treatise on light.

The formula used to apply Snell's law is as follows:

n1∗sin i=n 2∗sin t where:

i = Incident angle, is the angle between the incident ray and the normal N.

t = Transmitted angle, is the angle between the transmitted ray and the normal N.

n1 = Indicates the refractive index of the first medium.

n2 = Shows the refractive index of the second medium.

From the previous equation it follows that when n2 < n1 there is an angle of incidence, called the limit

angle, from which no refraction occurs = total reflection.

Application exercises:
Application exercises:
For the development of the following exercises, note that ¿ corresponds to the group number and CCC to the
first 3 digits of the identification number.
 2
mW /m ¿
1. An electromagnetic wave of f =¿ MHzand P+¿=120
1 , incident from the air (η1 =120 π Ω),
perpendicular to an infinite wall with an intrinsic impedance η2=CCC Ω . Calculate the
−¿ ¿ +¿¿
reflected power P1 and the transmitted power P2 to the wall.

2.
3. Figure 1: Propagation of “normal wave” in infinite medium.

f =¿ MHz=31 MHz
2
mW /m ¿
P+¿=120
1
η1=120 π Ω
η2=722Ω
P−¿=? ¿
1

P+¿=? ¿
2

Reflection coefficient is calculated

η2−η1
Γ=
η2 + η1
722 Ω−120 πΩ
Γ=
722Ω+120 πΩ
Γ =0,314
Reflectance is calculated
2
R=|Γ|

R=0,3142
R=0,098
R=9,8 %
Transmittance is calculated
T =1−R
 T =1−0,098
T =0,902
T =90,2 %
Reflected power is calculated

¿
¿
¿
Transmitted power is calculated
¿
¿
¿

Conclusions
 Bibliography

Wikipedia. (23 de septiembre 2019). Modos de propagación. Fundación Wikipedia Recuperado de

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modos_de_propagaci%C3%B3n

Wikipedia. (12 de septiembre 2019). Polarización electromagnética. Fundación Wikipedia Recuperado de

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polarizaci%C3%B3n_electromagn%C3%A9tica

Chena, L.C. (2019). la luz y las ondas electromagnéticas. España. juntadeandalucia.es Recuperado de
http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/averroes/centros-tic/41008970/helvia/sitio/upload/optica_fisica.pdf

Briceño, G. (2019). Ley de Snell. EUSTON Recuperado de https://www.euston96.com/ley-de-

snell/#Formula

Truxillo, C. [Slideplayer]. (2020). Ecuaciones de Fresnel para la reflexión y refracción. [Video]. Recuperado
de https://slideplayer.es/slide/2541931/