Antenna dimention vs wave length

In summary, the size of an antenna is generally correlated with the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave it is designed to receive or transmit. However, there are techniques such as using arrays of antennas or dielectric loading that can allow for smaller antennas. The dipole antenna is a common example, with a minimum length for efficient operation being a half wavelength. Adding loading coils or inductors can further reduce the size of a dipole antenna, but this comes at a cost in efficiency and bandwidth.
  • #1
oufa
26
0
please anyone tell me the relation betweeen wave length of em wave and antenna dimention
 
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  • #2
There is no "general" relation. Size and wavelength are correlated meaning you generally speaking need large antennas for long wavelengths (meaning the size will be of the order of a wavelength); but there are all sorts of "tricks" one can use to shrink antennas and make them smaller than this.
One can also increase the efficiency (or adjust other parameters) by using arrays of antennas meaning many antennas are much larger than one would expect than if size just scaled with wavelenght,
 
  • #3
A minimum length for an efficient antenna is a half wavelength.
This is the dipole antenna.

Even quite short pieces of wire will radiate a signal and receive strong signals, but when the antenna is cut carefully to slightly less than a half wavelength long, the antenna becomes resonant and can be fed in the middle to work well as a transmitting or receiving antenna.

Note that making it longer will make it less efficient. This is a resonance effect.

See the following:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipole_antenna
 
  • #4
With the proper matching circuit you can load up just about anything.
http://www.eham.net/articles/10721"
 
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  • #5
vk6kro said:
A minimum length for an efficient antenna is a half wavelength.
This is the dipole antenna.

Although that is sort of technically correct, it is important to remember that for certain types of antennas (such as the common patch antenna) it is the wavelength with dielectric loading that matters; this makes it possible to shrink that antenna to a size significantly smaller than the free-space wavelength (even with a common substrate like sapphire this makes the antenna about a factor of 3 smaller).
 
  • #6
You can tune up random bits of wire and add loading coils to dipoles to get them shorter, but you pay a big price in efficiency if you do that.

Firstly, bandwidth suffers. If you move the transmission frequency by a small amount, you have to retune.

And efficiency drops rapidly. On 1.8 MHz, a Ham Radio band, efficiencies of less than 1% are common because a dipole for that frequency should be about 273 ft long and 100 ft high and very few people have room for such an antenna.

So, pieces of wire are "tuned up" to accept some sort of a signal, but the losses due to connection resistance to ground, and component losses in the tuning apparatus become very large compared to the radiation resistance of the piece of wire.

If you really have to reduce the size of a dipole, you can do it by adding inductors in series with both side of it at some cost in efficiency up until the length of the dipole gets below 0.35 wavelength or 70% of its normal length. As it gets shorter than that, there are severe losses in efficiency.
 

Related to Antenna dimention vs wave length

1. What is the relationship between antenna dimension and wavelength?

The dimension of an antenna is directly related to the wavelength of the signal it is designed to receive or transmit. As the wavelength of a signal increases, the antenna must also increase in size in order to effectively capture or emit the signal.

2. How does the size of an antenna affect its performance?

The size of an antenna plays a crucial role in its performance. A longer antenna can capture or emit a wider range of frequencies, while a smaller antenna is more suitable for higher frequency signals. The size also affects the antenna's gain, or ability to amplify the signal, as well as its directivity, or the direction in which it can send or receive signals.

3. Can an antenna be too big or too small?

Yes, an antenna can be too big or too small for a particular wavelength. If the antenna is too large, it may be able to capture or emit a wider range of frequencies, but it may also become unwieldy and difficult to mount or use. On the other hand, if the antenna is too small, it may not be able to effectively capture or emit the desired signal.

4. How do I determine the appropriate antenna size for a specific wavelength?

The appropriate antenna size can be determined by calculating the wavelength of the signal using the formula λ = c/f, where λ is the wavelength in meters, c is the speed of light (3 x 10^8 meters per second), and f is the frequency in Hertz. Once the wavelength is determined, the antenna size can be estimated by taking into account the desired gain and directivity.

5. Are there any other factors to consider when choosing an antenna size?

In addition to the signal frequency and desired performance, other factors such as the environment in which the antenna will be used, the material the antenna is made of, and any interference or obstructions in the signal path should also be considered when determining the appropriate antenna size.

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