It is really hard to picture current as a wave. The best explanation I have had so far is that the energy is transferred along the wire as a longitudinal wave of compressions of charge density, just like a sound wave is a longitudinal compression of mass density.
so consider an open circuit connected to a sinusoidal voltage source. the charge's inside this conductor accelerate back and forward due to the force from the electric field. This creates a compressional wave of charge density through the conductor.
when this wave reaches the end of the conductor (because it is an open circuit), it will be reflected but upside down. This will create a standing wave.
So inside this conductor are points where the charge is not moving (the nodes) and in between the nodes there are points where the charge is oscillating with the maximum displacement.
For the fundamental standing wave there will be 1 node (at the end of the open circuit as the charge cannot oscillate out of the conductor) and 1 maximum point of displacement.
For the first harmonic, 2 nodes and 2 points of maximum displacement, for the second harmonic 3 etc...
Is this all correct? I am currently writing a report on antenna design and I need to know if I have the basics fully understood.
Thanks!
so consider an open circuit connected to a sinusoidal voltage source. the charge's inside this conductor accelerate back and forward due to the force from the electric field. This creates a compressional wave of charge density through the conductor.
when this wave reaches the end of the conductor (because it is an open circuit), it will be reflected but upside down. This will create a standing wave.
So inside this conductor are points where the charge is not moving (the nodes) and in between the nodes there are points where the charge is oscillating with the maximum displacement.
For the fundamental standing wave there will be 1 node (at the end of the open circuit as the charge cannot oscillate out of the conductor) and 1 maximum point of displacement.
For the first harmonic, 2 nodes and 2 points of maximum displacement, for the second harmonic 3 etc...
Is this all correct? I am currently writing a report on antenna design and I need to know if I have the basics fully understood.
Thanks!