EM wave penetration through walls....

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the factors influencing electromagnetic (EM) wave penetration through various materials, specifically contrasting FM radio waves and visible light. Participants highlight that materials exhibit different properties such as transparency, translucency, and opacity based on their atomic structure and conductivity at specific frequencies. The conversation emphasizes the role of atomic orbitals and the frequency-dependent nature of conduction in determining how waves interact with materials. Key examples include the transparency of glass to visible light and the ability of non-metallic walls to allow radio waves to pass through.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electromagnetic wave properties
  • Knowledge of atomic orbitals and their influence on material properties
  • Familiarity with concepts of transparency, translucency, and opacity
  • Basic principles of conductivity as a function of frequency
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the relationship between atomic orbitals and electromagnetic wave interaction
  • Explore the concept of frequency-dependent conductivity in materials
  • Learn about the diffraction of EM waves and its impact on wave penetration
  • Investigate the principles of transparency and opacity in various materials
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, electrical engineers, materials scientists, and anyone interested in the interaction of electromagnetic waves with different materials.

mktsgm
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What are the factors that determine the property of wave penetration of bodies? For instance we can listen to fm radio from inside the walls of a room. But visible light is unable to penetrate the walls.

Similarly some metals reflect some frequency but absorb some. How atomic orbitals play role in wave penetration?
 
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mktsgm said:
What are the factors that determine the property of wave penetration of bodies? For instance we can listen to fm radio from inside the walls of a room. But visible light is unable to penetrate the walls.

Similarly some metals reflect some frequency but absorb some. How atomic orbitals play role in wave penetration?
Conduction?

EDIT -- Conduction as a function of frequency.
 
berkeman said:
Conduction?

EDIT -- Conduction as a function of frequency.
Seems to me more like transparency / translucency / opacity than conduction (of course, I'm an EE so I think of conduction in a particular way). Glass is transparent to visible light waves, non-metallic walls are transparent to radio waves, etc. WHY things are transparent/opaque is of course still the real question.
 
phinds said:
WHY things are transparent/opaque is of course still the real question.
Isn't that related to the conduction of the material at the frequency of the incident EM? I certainly could be wrong...
 
berkeman said:
Isn't that related to the conduction of the material at the frequency of the incident EM? I certainly could be wrong...
I actually don't know anything about the conductivity of materials to incident EM waves, just of internal current flow (and that kind of conductivity does vary with frequency), and you certainly could be right.
 
mktsgm said:
What are the factors that determine the property of wave penetration of bodies? For instance we can listen to fm radio from inside the walls of a room. But visible light is unable to penetrate the walls.

Similarly some metals reflect some frequency but absorb some. How atomic orbitals play role in wave penetration?

Question: how do you know that the radio waves were able to penetrate through the walls? How do you know that it isn't due to the long wavelength of radio waves when compared to visible light, i.e. simple diffraction?

Zz.
 
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