Introduction to Electrodynamics · Problem 11.3

Radiation — David J. Griffiths

Physics · radiation-resistance-electric-dipole

Problem

Find the radiation resistance of the wire joining the two ends of the dipole. (This is the resistance that would give the same average power loss—to heat—as the oscillating dipole in fact puts out in the form of radiation.) Show that R=790 (d/λ)2 ΩR = 790\, (d/\lambda)^2\, \Omega, where λ\lambda is the wavelength of the radiation. For the wires in an ordinary radio (say, d=5d = 5 cm), should you worry about the radiative contribution to the total resistance?

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