Processing math: 100%
Skip to main content
Library homepage
 

Text Color

Text Size

 

Margin Size

 

Font Type

Enable Dyslexic Font
Physics LibreTexts

12.7: Antenna Systems (Summary)

( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)

Key Terms

transverse wave a wave, such as an electromagnetic wave, which oscillates perpendicular to the axis along the line of travel
standing wave a wave that oscillates in place, with nodes where no motion happens
wavelength the distance from one peak to the next in a wave
amplitude the height, or magnitude, of an electromagnetic wave
frequency the number of complete wave cycles (up-down-up) passing a given point within one second (cycles/second)
resonant system a system that displays enhanced oscillation when subjected to a periodic disturbance of the same frequency as its natural frequency
oscillate to fluctuate back and forth in a steady beat

Summary

Production of Electromagnetic Waves

  • Electromagnetic waves are created by oscillating charges (which radiate whenever accelerated) and have the same frequency as the oscillation.
  • Since the electric and magnetic fields in most electromagnetic waves are perpendicular to the direction in which the wave moves, it is ordinarily a transverse wave.
  • The strengths of the electric and magnetic parts of the wave are related by EB=c,
    which implies that the magnetic field B is very weak relative to the electric field E.

12.7: Antenna Systems (Summary) is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by OpenStax.

Support Center

How can we help?