B Half wave dipole antenna physics

AI Thread Summary
A half wave dipole antenna radiates only at the frequency of the voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) driving it, regardless of the antenna's length. If the antenna is not resonant at the driving frequency, efficiency decreases, but the emitted frequency remains unchanged. The speed of electromagnetic (EM) wave propagation is constant, and the oscillation of electrons creates EM waves at the frequency of the VCO. Misunderstandings about terms like "emission rate" can lead to confusion, as the focus should be on frequency. Ultimately, the antenna's length affects efficiency, not the frequency of the emitted signal.
midz99
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First time poster long time reader.

If i have a half wave dipole antenna with a certain length and I am using a VCO to drive that antenna at lower driving frequency do i get EM at the length of twice the length of the antenna but just at a slower emission rate?

example, if i have a half wave dipole antenna measuring 6.25cm and I am using a VCO to drive that antenna at only 1ghz where i should be using 2.4ghz, will that antenna still emit EM at 2.4ghz but at a rate of 1ghz?
 
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midz99 said:
First time poster long time reader.

If i have a half wave dipole antenna with a certain length and I am using a VCO to drive that antenna at lower driving frequency do i get EM at the length of twice the length of the antenna but just at a slower emission rate?

example, if i have a half wave dipole antenna measuring 6.25cm and I am using a VCO to drive that antenna at only 1ghz where i should be using 2.4ghz, will that antenna still emit EM at 2.4ghz but at a rate of 1ghz?
The antenna only radiates the frequency of the VCO. If it is of the "wrong" length, then efficiency is reduced, but frequency is unaltered.
 
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midz99 said:
If i have a half wave dipole antenna with a certain length and I am using a VCO to drive that antenna at lower driving frequency do i get EM at the length of twice the length of the antenna but just at a slower emission rate?

The EM wave is always radiated/emitted at the speed of light

midz99 said:
example, if i have a half wave dipole antenna measuring 6.25cm and I am using a VCO to drive that antenna at only 1ghz where i should be using 2.4ghz, will that antenna still emit EM at 2.4ghz but at a rate of 1ghz?

As tech99 said the emission will be poor
This is because the antenna isn't resonant for the 1 GHz frequency from the VCO
 
i think you miss understand what i meant by emission rate, each cycle back and forward of electron movement creates EM, now if the driving frequency was 2GHz then emission rate would be 2GHz. The distance an electron travels before its return trip directly corresponds to the wavelength of EM you get. but if that distance is restricted by length of the material, so it doesn't travel far enough how do you still get the same wavelength as the driving frequency?
 
midz99 said:
now if the driving frequency was 2GHz then emission rate would be 2GHz.

forget about the term emission rate ... isn't a term used for RF and antennas ... use frequency
The RF signal is emitted at the speed of light regardless of its frequency

midz99 said:
The distance an electron travels before its return trip directly corresponds to the wavelength of EM you get

no, the electrons just oscillate about a point at the given frequency. The distance they move at 2GHz is nigh microscopic in length

midz99 said:
but if that distance is restricted by length of the material, so it doesn't travel far enough how do you still get the same wavelength as the driving frequency?

that has already been answered above by tech99 and myself

BTW this thread shouldn't be labelled A for advanced, when you don't even have an understanding of the basics
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