DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name :A.V.VENUGOPAL.
Designation : Lecturer.
Branch : ECE.
Institute :G.P.W, Hindupur.
Semester : Third.
Subject :Analog communication.
Code :EC-305.
Topic :Transmission line and
wave propagation.
Sub-topic : Polarization of E.M. waves.
Duration : 50Mts.
Teaching Aids : PPTs,Diagrams.

EC305.66 1
Objectives:

Upon completion of this period ,you would be able to:

• Know the definition of polarization,

The types of polarization,
Details of linear, elliptical and
circular polarization.

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Polarization of Radio waves

• Polarization is defined as the direction of the electric field

vector of the EM waves with respect to earth.

• In simple terms, the Polarization of a plane wave is the

direction of its electric field vector

• Polarization is important because the receiving antenna

must have the same polarization as that of the wave for
best reception.

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Types of polarization

• There are three types of Polarization

1.linear Polarization
(a.) Vertical Polarization
(b.) Horizontal Polarization

2. Elliptical Polarization

3. Circular polarization

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Linear polarization

• If the direction of Electric field vector is un varying ,then

the Polarization is described as linear .

• A linear polarized wave is said to be vertically polarized if

the electric field vector is vertical with respect to ground.

• If the electric field is Horizontal with respect to ground ,

then the wave is said to be horizontally Polarized.

• If the path traced out by the tip of the electric vector is

ellipse then the polarization is called elliptical
polarization.
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Fig Vertical and Horizontal Polarization
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Elliptical polarization

• If the path traced out by the tip of the electric vector is

ellipse then the polarization is called Elliptical
polarization.

• In elliptical polarization the field strength varies as the

polarization changes .

• If the rotation occurs in clock wise direction when looking

along the direction of propagation , then it is called right
handed elliptical polarization
contd..

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Fig Elliptical polarization.
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• In left handed elliptical polarization , the rotation of
electric field vector occurs in anti clock wise direction .

• A special case of elliptical polarization is circular

polarization

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Circular polarization

• Some times the electric vector may rotate continuously

in cork screw fashion through 360° for each wave length
of travel.

• Polarization is said to be circular, when the rotating

electric field vector have equal field strength at all angles
of polarization .

• Circularly polarized waves can be received reasonably

well by antennas using either horizontal or vertical
Polarization .

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Fig circular polarization

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Fig different polarizations
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Method of generation of polarized waves
• The Position of the antenna determines the type of
polarization of the wave.

• Vertically positioned antenna produce vertically polarized

waves and horizontally positioned antennas produce
horizontally polarized waves.

• Medium wave broadcast antennas are vertically

polarized.

• In order to receive maximum signal, The polarization of

the receiving antenna must be same as that of the
transmitting antenna

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Use of polarized waves

• Medium wave broadcast antennas use vertically

polarization.

• F.M. Radio broadcasting commonly uses circular

Polarization, producing a signal that can be received by
either horizontal or vertical antennas .

• The circular polarization is commonly used in helical

antennas to receive V.H.F signals through the
ionosphere.

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 Summary

• Polarization is defined as the direction of the electric field

vector of the EM waves with respect to earth.
• There are three types of Polarization
1. linear polarization a) Vertical polarization,
b) Horizontal polarization
2. Elliptical polarization
3. Circular polarization .
• In order to receive maximum signal, the polarization of
the receiving antenna must be same as that of the
transmitting antenna.

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 QUIZ

1. Polarization of radio waves is determined by.

a) The directivity of the antenna
b) The height of the antenna
c) The orientation of electric field vector with
respect to the surface of earth.
d) The direction of propagation of the wave

Ans: c

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2.The Polarization of a medium wave signal is

a) Horizontal
b) Vertical
c) Circular
d) Elliptical

Ans: b

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3.A Circularly Polarized signal can receive by.

a) Horizontal polarized antenna

b) Vertically Polarized antenna
c) Circularly Polarized antenna
d) all the above

Ans :d

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4.What is the polarization of a wave with its magnetic
field vector horizontal.

a) Horizontal
b) Vertical
c) Circular
d) Elliptical
Ans: b

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Frequently asked questions

1.Define Polarization

2. Explain Linear, Circular and Elliptical Polarization.

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