Chapter 11: Q23P (page 497)
A radio tower rises to height h above flat horizontal ground. At the top is a magnetic dipole antenna, of radius b, with its axis vertical. FM station KRUD broadcasts from this antenna at (angular) frequency , with a total radiated power P (that鈥檚 averaged, of course, over a full cycle). Neighbors have complained about problems they attribute to excessive radiation from the tower鈥攊nterference with their stereo systems, mechanical garage doors opening and closing mysteriously, and a variety of suspicious medical problems. But the city engineer who measured the radiation level at the base of the tower found it to be well below the accepted standard. You have been hired by the Neighborhood Association to assess the engineer鈥檚 report.
(a) In terms of the variables given (not all of which may be relevant), find the formula for the intensity of the radiation at ground level, a distance R from the base of the tower. You may assume that . [Note: We are interested only in the magnitude of the radiation, not in its direction鈥攚hen measurements are taken, the detector will be aimed directly at the antenna.]
(b) How far from the base of the tower should the engineer have made the measurement? What is the formula for the intensity at this location?
(c) KRUD鈥檚 actual power output is 35 kilowatts, its frequency is 90 MHz, the antenna鈥檚 radius is 6 cm, and the height of the tower is 200 m. The city鈥檚 radio-emission limit is 200 microwatts. Is KRUD in compliance?
Short Answer
(a) The formula for the intensity of the radiation at ground level, a distance R from the base of the tower is .
(b) The observation made at the location is and it corresponds to .
(c) Yes, the KRUD is in compliance with the value of city鈥檚 radio and the value is
