The Basic lessons · Feedlines and antenna systems · B-006-007

Understanding Antenna Polarization and Isotropic Radiators

Learn how the physical orientation of an antenna determines the direction of radio waves and why matching this orientation is crucial for strong signals. Discover the concept of the isotropic radiator as a theoretical benchmark for measuring antenna performance.

This lesson is part of SignalPrep Pro. The subsection's 11 exam questions are free to practise: practise B-006-007.

What this subsection asks

• What does horizontal wave polarization mean?
• What does vertical wave polarization mean?
• What electromagnetic wave polarization does a Yagi antenna have when its elements are parallel to the Earth's surface?
• What electromagnetic wave polarization does a half-wavelength antenna have when it is perpendicular to the Earth's surface?
• Polarization of an antenna is determined by:
• An isotropic antenna is:
• What is the three-dimensional radiation pattern of an isotropic radiator?
• VHF signals from a mobile station using a vertical whip antenna will normally be best received using a:
• A dipole antenna will emit a vertically polarized wave if it is:
• If an electromagnetic wave leaves an antenna vertically polarized and reaches the receiving location by ground wave, what will be its final polarization?
• Compared with a horizontal antenna, a vertical antenna will receive a vertically polarized radio wave: