Fundamental of

Electromagnetic Field Theory

Mandhir Verma
Objectives: After completing this
module, you should be able to:
Explain and discuss with appropriate diagrams
the general properties of all electromagnetic
waves.
Discuss and apply the mathematical relationship
between the electric E and magnetic B
components of an EM wave.

Define and apply the concepts of energy density,

intensity, and pressure due to EM waves.

Much of this material is NOT in Tippens Textbook

 Maxwells Theory
Electromagnetic theory developed by James
Maxwell (1831 1879) is based on four concepts:

1. Electric fields E begin on positive charges and

end on negative charges and Coulombs law
can be used to find the field E and the force
on a given charge.

q
E
4 0 r 2

+ q1 q2 - F qE
 Maxwells Theory (Cont.)
2. Magnetic field lines F do not begin or end,
but rather consist of entirely closed loops.

F
B
A sin

q
B
qv sin
 Maxwells Theory (Cont.)
3. A changing magnetic field DB induces an emf
and therefore an electric field E (Faradays Law).

Faradays Law: A change in flux DF can

occur by a change in area or
DF by a change in the B-field:
E = -N
Dt DF = B DA DF = A DB
 Maxwells Theory (Cont.)
4. Moving charges (or an electric current) induce
a magnetic field B.

Solenoid Current I B
l I B
induces x
B B field x
x
x
R 0 NI x
B x
Inductance L Lenzs law
Production of an Electric Wave
Consider two metal rods connected to an ac
source with sinusoidal current and voltage.

Arrows show field vectors (E)

-
+

+ E Wave
-
Vertical transverse sinusoidal E-waves.
An Alternating Magnetic Field
The ac sinusoidal current also generates a
magnetic wave alternating in and out of paper.

Inward B Outward B -
+
I I
r
X

In Out
r r
X
B B +
-
A Magnetic Wave Generation
The generation of a magnetic wave
due to an oscillating ac current.

+ Arrows show magnetic field vectors (B)

-
I
r

B B - Wave
-
+
Horizontal transverse sinusoidal B-waves.
 An Electromagnetic Wave
An electromagnetic wave consists of combination
of a transverse electric field and a transverse
magnetic field perpendicular to each other.

+ Arrows show field vectors

-
EM wave propagation in space
 Transmitting and Receiving
An ac current generates an EM wave which then
generates an ac signal at receiving antenna.
 A B-field Moves Past a Charge
Relativity tells us that there is no preferred frame of
reference. Consider that a magnetic field B moves at
the speed of light c past a stationary charge q:

c Stationary Charge q experiences a

N magnetic force F
positive charge
q B F qcB or
F
cB
q
S
c But electric field E = F/q:
E
Substitution shows: E cB c
B
 An E-field Moves Past a Point
A length of wire l moves at velocity c past point A:
A current I is simulated.
A
E r In time t, a length of wire
l = ct passes point A
c
++++++ q q
Charge density:
Wire moves at ct
velocity c past E
A In time t: q = ct
Thus, the current I is: Simulated current I:
q ct
I c I c
t t
 Moving E-field (Cont.)
A A B-field is created by the
E r simulated current: I c
c 0 I 0 c
++++++ B
2 r 2 r
E

Recall from Gauss law: Eliminating from these

two equations gives:

E
2 0 r B 0 0cE
 The Speed of an EM Wave
For EM waves, we have seen: A
E E r
c B 0 0cE c
B ++++++
Substituting E = cB into
latter equation gives: E
B 0 0c(cB)
EM-waves travel at the
1 speed of light, which is:
c
0 0 c = 3.00 x 108 m/s
 Important Properties for All
Electromagnetic Waves
EM waves are transverse waves. Both E and
B are perpendicular to wave velocity c.
The ratio of the E-field to the B-field is
constant and equal to the velocity c.
 Energy Density for an E-field
Energy density u is the energy per unit volume
(J/m3) carried by an EM wave. Consider u for the
electric field E of a capacitor as given below:

Energy density u U U
A d u
for an E-field: Vol. Ad
0 A
Recall C and V Ed :
d Energy
U 1
AdE
density u:
2
u 2 0

1 2 1 0 A
U 2 CV 2 ( Ed ) 2 uAd 1
2 0 E 2
Ad
d
 Energy Density for a B-field
Earlier we defined the energy density u for a B-field
using the example of a solenoid of inductance L:
0 N 2 A
l L ; U LI ; V A
1
2
2

A 0 NI NI B
R
B
0

U 0 N I 2 2 2
Energy density B
u for B-field:
u
A 2 2
20
 Energy Density for EM Wave

The energy of an EM wave is shared equally by

the electric and magnetic fields, so that the
total energy density of the wave is given by:
2
B
Total energy density: u 0 E
1 2
2
20
Or, since energy is B2
u 0E2
shared equally: 0
 Average Energy Density
The E and B-fields fluctuate between their
maximum values Em and Bm. An average value
of the energy density can be found from the
root-mean-square values of the fields:
Em Bm
Erms and Brms
2 2

The average energy density uavg is therefore:

uavg 0 E
1
2
2
m or uavg 0 E2
rms
Example 1: The maximum amplitude of an
E-field from sunlight is 1010 V/m. What is
the root-mean-square value of the B-field?
Em 1010 V/m
Bm 3.37 T EM
c 8
3 x 10 m/s wave
Bm 3.37 T
Brms ; Brms 2.38 T
2 1.414 Earth

What is the average energy density of the wave?

uavg 0 E (8.85 x 10
1
2
2
m
1
2
-12 Nm2
C2
)(1010 V/m)

J Note that the total energy

uavg 4.47 x 10 -9

m3 density is twice this value.

 Wave Intensity I
The intensity of an EM wave is defined as the
power per unit area (W/m2).
EM wave moves distance ct P
I
through area A as shown below: A
Area A
Total energy = density x volume
Total energy = u(ctA)
ct
P Total E uctA
I uc A
A Time Area tA

And Since Total intensity: P

I uc
u = oE2 I c 0 E
2
m
A
 Calculating Intensity of Wave
In calculating intensity, you must
distinguish between average
P
values and total values: I
A
IT c 0 Em2 2c 0 Erms
2 Area A

I avg 12 c 0 Em2
I avg 12 c 0 Em2 c 0 Erms
2

Since E = cB, we can also express I in terms of B:

c 2c c c
IT B
2
B2
I avg B
2 2
Brms
0 0 20 0
m rms m
Example 2: A signal received from a radio
station has Em = 0.0180 V/m. What is the
average intensity at that point?
The average intensity is:

I avg c 0 E
1
2
2
m

I avg (3 x 10 m/s)(8.85 x 10
1
2
8 -12 Nm2
C2
)(0.018 V/m) 2

I avg 4.30 x 10-7 W/m2

Note that intensity is power per unit area. The
power of the source remains constant, but the
intensity decreases with the square of distance.
 Wave Intensity and Distance
The intensity I at a distance r
from an isotropic source:
P P
I
A 4 r 2
The average power of the A
source can be found from the
intensity at a distance r :
For power falling on
For isotropic conditions: surface of area A:
P AI avg (4 r ) I avg
2
P = Iavg A
 Example 3: In Example 2, an average intensity
of 4.30 x 10-7 W/m2 was observed at a point. If
the location is 90 km (r = 90,000 m) from the
isotropic radio source, what is the average
power emitted by the source?
P
I avg 2.39 x 10 -5
W/m 2
90 km 4 r 2
P = (4r2)(4.30 x 10-7 W/m2)

P = 4(90,000 m)2(4.30 x 10-7 W/m2)

Average power
P = 43.8 kW
of transmitter:
This assumes isotropic propagation, which is not likely.
 Radiation Pressure
EM-waves not only carry energy, but also carry
momentum and exert pressure when absorbed
or reflected from objects.
Radiation Force
Recall that Power = F v Pressure Area
P Fc F I A
I or
A A A c
The pressure is due to the transfer of momentum.
The above relation gives the pressure for a
completely absorbing surface.
 Radiation Pressure (Cont.)
The change in momentum for a fully reflected
wave is twice that for an absorbed wave, so
that the radiation pressures are as follows:

Absorbed wave: Reflected wave:

Radiation Force Radiation Force
Pressure Area Pressure Area
A A

F I F 2I

A c A c
Example 4: The average intensity of direct
sunlight is around 1400 W/m2. What is the
average force on a fully absorbing surface of
area 2.00 m2?
Absorbed wave: For absorbing F I
Radiation Force

surface: A c
Pressure Area
IA
A F
c
2 2
(1400 W/m )(2.00 m )
F F = 9.33 x 10-6 N
3 x 108 m/s
 The Radiometer
A radiometer is a device which demonstrates
the existence of radiation pressure:

One side of the panels is

black (totally absorbing)
and the other white
(totally reflecting). The
panels spin under light
due to the pressure
differences.
Radiometer
 Summary

EM waves are transverse waves. Both E and

B are perpendicular to wave velocity c.
The ratio of the E-field to the B-field is
constant and equal to the velocity c.
Electromagnetic waves carry both energy
and momentum and can exert pressure on
surfaces.
 Summary (Cont.)
EM-waves travel at the
speed of light, which is: E c 1
c
B 0 0
c = 3.00 x 108 m/s

2
B
Total Energy Density: u 0 E
1 2
2
20
Em Bm
Erms and Brms
2 2
 Summary (Cont.)
The average energy density:

uavg 0 E
1
2
2
m or uavg 0 E 2
rms

I avg c 0 E c 0 E
1
2
2
m
2
rms

Intensity and Totally Totally

Distance Absorbing Reflecting
F I F 2I
P
I
P

A 4 r 2 A c A c