Translations:Observations/Radio wave propagation/8/en

Types of Propagation

Free Space Propagation

In an ideal, open space environment, electromagnetic waves propagate in a straight line from the transmitter to the receiver. This type of propagation is characterized by minimal obstacles or interference and is commonly used for long-distance communication, such as satellite communication. In free space, these waves adhere to the Inverse-square law, which dictates that the power density exhibited by an electromagnetic wave correlates directly with the inverse of the square of the distance from the originating point source. In simpler terms, when the distance between a transmitter and a receiver is doubled, the resulting effect is a reduction in the power density of the radiated wave at the new location to just one-quarter of its former value.