WAVE PROPAGATION

ENGR NICHOLAS MARIOUS B. ASILO

 GUIDED UNGUIDED

METALLIC NON-METALLIC

EARTH’S
ATMOSPHERE
OR
BALANCED UNBALANCED
VACUUM
MICROWAVE
OPTICAL FIBER SATELLITE

PARALLEL WIRELINE TWISTED PAIR COAXIAL

BRIEF HISTORY

 1884, James Clerk Maxwell

 1888, Heinrich Hertz

 1896, Guilielmo Marconi

 1900, Reginald Fessenden

BRIEF HISTORY

 1924, Spark Transmission Phased out

 1876, Alexander Graham Bell

 1932, Karl Jansky

 1939, Grote Reber

GROTE REBER’S RADIO SKY MAPS
KINDS OF WAVES
 LONGITUDINAL WAVE
The displacement (amplitude) is Parallel direction of the propagation
Ex. Surface of water
Sound Wave

 TRANSVERSE WAVE
The displacement (amplitude) is Perpendicular to the propagation
Ex. Electromagnetic Wave
WHAT ARE ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES?

 An electromagnetic wave is an energy wave produced from an electrical

discharge.
 Electromagnetic waves have rise and fall cycles.
 The number of rise and fall cycles per second is its frequency.
 We can’t see or feel them, but they are around us.
CHARACTERISTICS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE
 WAVE VELOCITY
 FREQUENCY
𝒄 = 𝟑. 𝟎 ∗ 𝟏𝟎𝟖 𝐦Τ𝐬
 WAVELENGTH
𝑻 = 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐝 (𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬)
λ Velocity of
Propagation 𝟏
𝒇 = 𝐇𝐳
𝑻
𝒄
λ= 𝐦
T 𝒇
TRANSVERSE ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE (TEM)

TEM is a mode of propagation where the electric and magnetic field lines
are all restricted to directions normal (transverse) to the direction of
propagation
INTERNATIONAL TELECOM UNION (ITU) BAND
DESIGNATIONS
REVIEW…

 ELECTRIC CHARGE ON CAPACITOR

𝐐 = 𝐂𝐕

 MAGNETIC FLUX IN INDUCTOR

𝝋 = 𝐋𝐈
ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE COMPONENTS
 ELECTRIC FIELD (E)
Electric fields are invisible force fields produced by a difference in voltage
potential between two conductors.
𝐪
𝐄=
𝟒𝛑𝜺𝒅𝟐
E = Electric field 𝑉ൗ𝑚
q = Charge between conductors coulombs
ε = Permittivity 𝐹ൗ𝑚
d = distance between conductors (meters)
ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE COMPONENTS
 MAGNETIC FIELD (H)
Magnetic field is an invisible force field produced by a magnet, such as a
conductor when current is flowing through it

𝟏
𝐇=
𝟐𝛑𝐝

H = Magnetic field 𝐴ൗ𝑚

d = distance from wire (meters)
IMPEDANCE OF FREE SPACE
The electric and magnetic field intensities of an electromagnetic wave in
free space are related through the characteristic impedance (resistance) of
free space.

𝝁𝒐
𝐙= = 𝟑𝟕𝟕𝛀
𝜺𝒐

𝑍 = Characteristic Impedance of Free Space

𝜇𝑜 = Permeability of Vacuum
𝜀𝑜 = Permittivity of Vacuum
POWER DENSITY
Power density in space is the amount of power that flows through each
square meter of a surface perpendicular to the direction of travel

𝐏𝐃 = 𝐄𝐇

𝑃𝐷 = Power Density WattsΤm2

𝐸 = Electric Field VoltΤmeter
𝐻 = Magnetic Field AmpereΤmeter
SPHERICAL WAVEFRONT

A B
𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐝
𝐏𝐃 =
𝟒𝛑𝒓𝟐
C
R
𝑃𝐷 = Power Density WattsΤm2
𝑃𝑟𝑎𝑑 = Power Radiated (Watts)
r = distance meter
ISOTROPIC RADIATOR
ELECTRIC FIELD INTENSITY

𝟑𝟎𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐝
𝐄=
𝐫

𝐸 = Electric field intensity VΤm

𝑃𝑟𝑎𝑑 = Power Radiated (Watts)
r = distance meter
POLARIZATION
Polarization refers to the physical orientation of the radiated waves in
space.

FARADAY’S LAW
It states that the induced E.M.F. in a conducting circuit is directly
proportional to the rate of change of magnetic flux linkage with the circuit

𝛆 = 𝐁𝐋𝐕 sin 𝜽
TYPES OF POLARIZATION

 LINEAR POLARIZATION

 VERTICAL POLARIZATION
 HORIZONTAL POLARIZATION
TYPES OF POLARIZATION

 CIRCULAR POLARIZATION

Polarization vector rotates 360° as the wave

moves one wavelength through space and
the field strength is equal at all angles of
polarization
TYPES OF POLARIZATION

 ELIPTICAL POLARIZATION

The field strength of an elliptically polarized

wave varies with changes in polarization.
SAMPLE PROBLEM

For an isotropic antenna radiating 100 W of power, determine:

 Power density 1000m from the source
 Power density 2000m from the source.
SAMPLE PROBLEM

A 500kHz antenna radiate 500W of power. The same antenna produces a

field strength equal to 1.5mV/m. If the power delivered by the antenna is
decreased to 250W, what would be the expected field intensity?
SAMPLE PROBLEM

A 500kHz transmitter of constant power produces a field strength of

100𝜇𝑉/𝑚 at a distance of 100 miles from the transmitter, what would be
the theoretical field strength at a distance of 200 miles from the
transmitter?
SAMPLE PROBLEM

Find the propagation velocity of radio waves in glass, which has a relative
permittivity of 7.8
a. 38.46 x 106 mΤs
b. 107 x 106 mΤs
c. 3.846 x 106 mΤs
d. 214 x 106 mΤs
WAVE ATTENUATION & ABSORPTION

 ATTENUATION

Attenuation occurs because of the spherical spreading of the wave. It is the

reduction of power density with distance from the source.

𝐏𝐃𝟏
𝛂 = 𝟏𝟎 𝐥𝐨𝐠
𝐏𝐃𝟐
WAVE ATTENUATION & ABSORPTION

 ABSORPTION

Some of the energy from electromagnetic waves is transferred to the

atoms and molecules of the atmosphere causing some radio waves to be
absorbed.
WAVE ATTENUATION & ABSORPTION
WAVE ATTENUATION & ABSORPTION

 TOTAL FREE SPACE LOSS (FSL)

𝑳𝒑 𝒅𝑩 = 𝟑𝟐. 𝟒 + 𝟐𝟎𝒍𝒐𝒈𝑫𝒌𝒎 + 𝟐𝟎𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒇𝑴𝑯𝒛

ATTENUATION ABSORPTION

Where:
𝐷 = Distance from transmitter to receiver (KM)
𝑓 = frequency of the signal (MHz)
OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF RADIO WAVES

 REFLECTION

 REFRACTION

 DIFFRACTION

 INTERFERENCE
OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF RADIO WAVES

 REFRACTION

It is defined as the bending of a ray as it passes

from one medium to another at an angle.

Snell’s Law:
n1 = Index of refraction of Medium 1
n1 sinϴi = n2 sinϴr n2 = Index of refraction of Medium 2
ϴi = Angle of incidence
ϴr = Angle of Refraction
OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF RADIO WAVES

 REFLECTION

It is the bouncing of electromagnetic

waves in a smooth surface. The angle of
incidence is equal to the angle of
reflection.
RAYLEIGH CRITERION

It states that a semi-rough surface will reflect as if it were smooth surface

whenever the cosine of the angle of incidence is greater than 𝜆Τ8𝑑.
OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF RADIO WAVES

 DIFFRACTION

It is the redistribution (scattering) of energy within a wave front when it

passes near the edge of an object
WAVE PROPAGATION MODES

 GROUND WAVE

 SKY WAVE

 SPACE WAVE
GROUND WAVE (SURFACE WAVE PROPAGATION)

 GROUND WAVE (SURFACE WAVE PROPAGATION)

Radio waves that travel or progress along the surface of the Earth.
GROUND WAVE (SURFACE WAVE PROPAGATION)

ADVANTAGE

• Given enough power, it can be used to communicate between any two

locations in the world

• Unaffected by changing atmospheric conditions

GROUND WAVE (SURFACE WAVE PROPAGATION)

DISADVANTAGE

• Requires high transmission power

• Limited to VLF, LF, MF

• Losses vary considerably with surface material and composition

SPACE WAVE (TROPOSPHERIC PROPAGATION)

 SPACE WAVE (TROPOSPHERIC PROPAGATION)

Radio waves that leave the transmitting antenna and travel in a straight line
toward the receiving antenna.
SPACE WAVE (TROPOSPHERIC PROPAGATION)
 RADIO HORIZON & MAXIMUM RADIO RANGE
Radio range is greater than the optical range because the effect of the
earth’s atmosphere is to cause bending of the radio waves.

𝑑𝑚𝑖 = 2ℎ 𝑇(𝑓𝑡) + 2ℎ𝑅(𝑓𝑡)

d = total distance
hT = Height of transmitting antenna
hR = Height of receiving antenna
SKY WAVE (IONOSPHERIC PROPAGATION)

 SKY WAVE (IONOSPHERIC PROPAGATION)

Radio waves that are radiated from the transmitting antenna in a direction
that produces a large angle with reference to the Earth
SKY WAVE (IONOSPHERIC PROPAGATION)

ATMOSPHERIC LAYER

• Troposphere
• Stratosphere
• Ionosphere
SKY WAVE (IONOSPHERIC PROPAGATION)
 IONOSPHERIC LAYERS

• D Layer
• E Layer
• F1 Layer
• F2 Layer
IONOSPHERIC PROPAGATION PARAMETERS

 Critical Frequency

 Critical Angle

 Maximum Usable Frequency

 Optimum Working Frequency

 Virtual Height

 Skip Zone
OTHER PROPAGATION MODES

 TROPOSPHERIC SCATTER
Makes use of the scattering of radio waves in the troposphere to
propagate signals in the 250 MHz to 5 GHz range
OTHER PROPAGATION MODES

 DUCTING

A super refractive layer can form in the troposphere and return signals to
Earth.
OTHER PROPAGATION MODES

 METEOR-TRAIL PROPAGATION

The meteors that enter the atmosphere leave behind an ionized trail that
can be used for communication.