I’ve seen radio waved depicted in two different ways that seem at odds with one another. the first is something like [this](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/Wireless_tower.svg/75px-Wireless_tower.svg.png), with the waves spreading out from a point source in all directions. the second is like [this](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Cross_linear_polarization.gif/330px-Cross_linear_polarization.gif) with the radio wave moving in a “tube” constrained by its own parameters.
since we can’t see them, radio waves remain a bit abstract, but both of these visualizations can’t be correct at the same time… or can they? can someone as to what the real picture would “look” like?
many thanks!
In: 3
It depends on the transmitting antennae. If it is ‘omnidirectional’ then the waves will appear to propagate in all directions.
Think of the difference between a lightbulb and a flashlight. The flashlight focuses the light from a lightbulb so it goes in one direction. It is a similar idea with point to point antennae.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaXm6wau-jc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaXm6wau-jc)
This engineering video is helpful to understand how antenna work.
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