Coupled electric and magnetic fields travelling at the speed of light.
Oscillating E and B fields propagate in free space at c=3×10⁸ m/s, with c=fλ. The spectrum ranges from radio through microwave, infrared, visible, UV, X-ray to gamma. E and B are perpendicular to each other and the direction of travel.
A 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi signal has wavelength 12.5 cm.
Electromagnetic waves carry energy and information through space, which is the basis of radio, radar, optics and wireless design.
Coupled electric and magnetic fields travelling at the speed of light.
Electromagnetic waves carry energy and information through space, which is the basis of radio, radar, optics and wireless design.
At the speed of light in vacuum, about 3 times ten to the eighth metres per second, and slower in materials.
Wavelength equals speed divided by frequency, so higher frequency waves have shorter wavelengths.
Typical applications include estimating the wavelength of a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi signal, choosing the frequency of a radar for a required resolution and understanding why microwaves pass through plastic but not metal.
Study "Thyristors and IGBTs" first (topic 91 of 106 in Electrical Engineering). It covers the groundwork this topic builds on.
Polarisation. Reflection, refraction, diffraction. Skin depth in conductors.
A 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi signal has wavelength 12.5 cm.
The next topic is "Maxwell's equations", which builds directly on this one.
It is classed as Advanced in Electrical Engineering (topic 92 of 106). It is an advanced topic. It assumes you are comfortable with the intermediate topics in Electrical Engineering.
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