Electromagnetic field in vertical

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the behavior of electromagnetic (EM) waves in relation to their orientation and interaction with antennas. Participants explore the implications of vertical alignment with EM waves, particularly focusing on how antennas receive signals based on their positioning relative to the source of the waves.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants inquire about the effects of vertical alignment with EM waves, specifically whether an antenna positioned above a source would receive variations in the field.
  • There is a clarification that EM waves propagate as spherical wavefronts, not as linear waves, which influences how antennas receive signals based on their orientation.
  • One participant suggests that the orientation of the electric field, known as polarization, affects how charges vibrate in response to the wave.
  • Another participant explains that when an EM wave interacts with a charged particle, the electric field accelerates the particle, and the magnetic field subsequently acts on it, referencing the Lorentz force law.
  • There is uncertainty expressed regarding the specific behavior of charges and their motion in relation to the polarization of the EM wave.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of antenna orientation and the nature of EM wave propagation. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specifics of how vertical alignment affects signal reception.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully defined terms such as "above it" in the context of antenna positioning, leading to ambiguity in the discussion. Additionally, the relationship between polarization and charge motion is not fully clarified, leaving room for further exploration.

scientifico
Messages
181
Reaction score
0
Hello, I know the electromagnetic field propagates in a 3D space so if I am horizontally aligned with the field I will receive its variation but what if I'm vertically aligned ?

thanks
 
Physics news on Phys.org
It isn't clear what you mean.

Are you talking about Electric Field, Magnetic Field or Electromagnetic Waves?
 
electromagnetic waves
 
Are you asking what happens if the orientation of the EM waves electric field changes with respect to you? (Let's use antenna instead of you)
 
yes an antenna put about horizontally compared to the charge will receive the em field variations bat what if the antenna is above it ?
 
scientifico said:
yes an antenna put about horizontally compared to the charge will receive the em field variations bat what if the antenna is above it ?

I don't understand what you mean by "above it". It sounds like you think the EM wave is a squiggly line that travels through the air. This is not true. It is a wavefront that, in an omnidirectional transmitter, is emitted in all directions. This is similar to dropping a rock in water. The waves make a circle as they travel outwards known as a wavefront, and an EM wave makes a spherical wavefront in this case.

The EM wave diagram or graph that you see everywhere represents the vector of the electric and magnetic fields. This just means that as the wave passes over an object, it will push charges in one direction, then stop and push the other way before stopping again and repeating the process. The orientation of the electric field is known as polarization.
 
By above it I mean a situation like this. will antenna 1 receive nothing ?
 

Attachments

  • 2.2_campo_elettromagnetico.jpg
    2.2_campo_elettromagnetico.jpg
    10.2 KB · Views: 424
scientifico said:
By above it I mean a situation like this. will antenna 1 receive nothing ?

This is exactly what I thought you were getting at. Like I said above, that diagram is not what you think it is. The X and Y axis are amplitudes, while the Z is either time or distance. This is only showing you the relationship between phase, amplitude, and the orientation of the VECTOR of the fields. Read my post above again.

An EM wave expands outward in all directions. If it is an omnidirectional emitter the wave will expand outwards in a spherical shape. Again, think of a rock making ripples in a pond, but instead of the 2d ripples that make circles, Em waves make spheres. (Or cones or some other 3d shape depending on the circumstance)
 
so does the charge vibrate in all directions not just up and down ?
 
  • #10
scientifico said:
so does the charge vibrate in all directions not just up and down ?

That depends on the polarization I think, not sure.
 
  • #11
do you know any video which could help me in visualizing and understanding Em waves correctly ?
 
  • #12
scientifico said:
so does the charge vibrate in all directions not just up and down ?
when an electromagnetic wave falls on a charged particle,then the electric field will accelerate it and it gets a velocity in that direction .After it,magnetic field will act because it can not not act if particle does not have a velocity.The magnetic field exerts the force on the charge particle in the direction of propagation of wave,as is easily seen because of lorentz force law.So it is only the E field which will cause the oscillatory motion in up and down direction and that is what is meant by polarization of EM wave.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
3K
  • · Replies 42 ·
2
Replies
42
Views
4K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 65 ·
3
Replies
65
Views
6K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
2K