Radio Propagation - Free Space Propagation

Free Space Propagation

In free space, all electromagnetic waves (radio, light, X-rays, etc.) obey the inverse-square law which states that the power density of an electromagnetic wave is proportional to the inverse of the square of the distance from a point source or:

Doubling the distance from a transmitter means that the power density of the radiated wave at that new location is reduced to one-quarter of its previous value.

The power density per surface unit is proportional to the product of the electric and magnetic field strengths. Thus, doubling the propagation path distance from the transmitter reduces each of their received field strengths over a free-space path by one-half.

Read more about this topic:  Radio Propagation

Famous quotes containing the words free and/or space:

    Others apart sat on a Hill retir’d,
    In thoughts more elevate, and reason’d high
    Of Providence, Foreknowledge, Will, and Fate,
    Fixt Fate, free will, foreknowledge absolute,
    And found no end, in wandring mazes lost.
    Of good and evil much they argu’d then,
    Of happiness and final misery,
    Passion and Apathie, and glory and shame,
    Vain wisdom all, and false Philosophie:
    John Milton (1608–1674)

    from above, thin squeaks of radio static,
    The captured fume of space foams in our ears—
    Hart Crane (1899–1932)