Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) Explained – Easy To Understand Definitions

Here are a list of easy to understand, not too technical electromagnetic field (EMF) definitions.

If there is a definition you are looking for which you can't find on this page, let me know in the comment box at the bottom of the page and I'll add it in!

Alternating current

An electrical current that changes strength and direction of flow with a certain regular cycle. For example, 60 Hertz alternating current (AC) is an electrical current that changes its polarity (from positive to negative and back to positive; a complete cycle) sixty times per second.

 

Ampere

A unit of measure for electric current. Amperes or amps are quantity. Thought of in terms of water, amps are like gallons or buckets (volts are the pressure – see below).

 

Amplitude

Amplitude is the measurement of the maximum of peak displacement compared to the zero rest level, that's to say its the height of the wave. The unit of amplitude varies with the kind of waves we are talking about. E.g. The amplitude of an electric field is measured in V/m.

 

Antenna

An antenna is a conductor that can send and receive EMFs such as microwave, radio or satellite signals. A high-gain antenna increases signal strength, a low-gain antenna receives or transmits over a wide angle. This metal device is also called an aerial.

 

Attenuation

Attenuation is the opposite of amplification. It means reduction in signal strength by losing gradually flux intensity. For RF shielding products the attenuation is commonly expressed in decibels (dB) at a certain frequency because the attenuation changes according to the frequency.

 

Attenuation Specification

The attenuation specification for a shielding material indicates how much radiation penetrates through the shield.

 

Bus or busbar

It is a metallic bar or a strip, with screw connections for either neutral or grounding conductors. The busbar is used for local high current power distribution.

 

Code

As far as electricity goes in the US this refers to the National Electrical Code (NEC), which is revised every three years. This is a safety practice adopted by the states and not a federal law.

 

Conductors

Any material which passes electrical current in one or more directions. Metal is generally used as a conductor – other substances such as the earth or the human body can be good conductors which partly explains the health issues with metal fillings and EMFs.

 

Conduits

Typically metal pipes for carrying electrical wiring though they can be made of PVC or other materials. They can act as grounding conductors for electrical circuits in some circumstances.

 

Current

An electric current is a flow of electric charge through a power line or an electric wire. Like water flows through a pipe an electric current flows in a wire. Where currents flow magnetic fields are produced.

 

Direct current (DC)

Direct current is an electric current that flows in one direction only, as opposed to alternating current or AC which flows back and forth. Most countries in the world use alternating current.

 

Distribution lines

Lines carrying power to neighborhoods (primary distribution) and to one or several buildings (secondary distribution). To simplify it is the final stage before electricity gets to your house.

 

Directional EMF Meter

A directional EMF meter can detect EMFs from a given direction as opposed to an omnidirectional (or triaxial) meter which at any time gives the reading of the EMFs coming from all directions in a given position. It may be seen as an advantage for a RF meter to be directional because it allows you to determine the direction of the RF source.

 

Dirty Electricity

Dirty electricity is a form of electrical pollution commonly found on house wiring. Dirty electricity exposures have been linked to cancer and a long list of serious diseases – thanks to the numerous electrical devices we love.

 

Earth

It is the English term for ground. That is to say, when there is a physical connection with the earth. The regulations for earthing systems are very different between countries.

 

Electric field

Electric fields are produced around physical items. It is a zone of potential difference between oppositely charged conductors or between conductors and ground. It's measured in volts per meter (or V/m) and is a function of voltage, not of current.

 

Electromagnetic Fields

An electromagnetic field, also called an EMF, is a region of space where electric and magnetic forces interact. Often used to refer to the general phenomena associated with fields spreading out from conductors or antennas, depending on the frequency.

 

Electromagnetic spectrum

The electromagnetic spectrum or EMF spectrum is used to show the relationship between different types of EMFs according to their frequency and wavelength.

Electrosmog

A term used to refer to the excessive density of electromagnetic fields, from both wired and wireless sources, in the environment. It is also called the “electromagnetic pollution”.

 

ELF

Extremely low frequencies are in the range 1-300 Hz though sometimes defined as being up to 3kHz. Your homes' electrical wiring (60Hz in US) is in this ELF range.

 

Frequency

Gauss

A unit used for measuring magnetic field strength (flux density). Milligauss (mG) is more commonly used for measuring health impacts. One gauss equals 1,000 milligauss. Tesla or microTesla is used more commonly in Europe. 1 µT (microtesla) = 10 mG (milligauss)

 

Gaussmeter

A device used to measure magnetic field strength, calibrated in Gauss.

 

Ground

Used as a verb or noun. As a verb it means to connect in some way to either earth or to a conductor which serves in place of the earth. Sometimes used when the more accurate term would be “bond.” N.B. it is not the earth connection which protects a circuit from a “ground fault,” but a solid connection back to the transformer neutral. Not be confused with grounding or earthing, the practice of going barefoot and/or connecting with the healing effect of the earth.

 

Harmonics

Harmonics and transients are a form of “noise” or “distortion” which attach to the fundamental wave, thereby producing a distorted waveform. Commonly known as dirt electricity.

 

Hertz

Used to measure the rate at which charge changes polarity of an AC electric current. One Hertz is one cycle per second.

 

Hot

As a noun it refers to the ungrounded circuit conductor carrying the voltage.

 

Ionizing Radiation

According to the World health Organization (WHO), ionizing radiation is “radiation with enough energy so that(…)it can remove tightly bound electrons from the orbit of an atom, causing the atom to become charged or ionized”. These unpaired electrons are otherwise termed ‘free radicals'. Therefore non-ionizing radiation is just the opposite, it's radiation that doesn't have enough energy to remove electrons from atoms. Nevertheless non-ionizing radiation is dangerous.

 

Insulation

A material which is a poor conductor of electric current and has a higher resistivity.

 

Magnetic field

A zone of energy which accompanies every electric current. Can be an AC or DC magnetic field (MF) – measured in milligauss. A typical source of magnetic fields is faulty electrical wiring and power lines.

 

Microwaves

In the US the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) defines “microwaves” as a subcategory of RF radiation operating at frequencies ranging from about 1 GHz upward.

 

Milligauss

One-thousandth of a gauss (mG). It's the unit of measurement for magnetic fields most commonly used in North America.

 

National Electrical Code

The National Electrical Code (NEC) is a set of electrical code requirements that govern electrical installations for the safe installation of electrical wiring and equipment.

 

Neutral

Or neutral conductor. The common term for a grounded conductor (GC), white in the US.

 

Non-ionizing radiation

Devices like cell phones, cordless phones, WiFi emit non-ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation has the ability to break molecular bonds, non-ionizing radiation was once considered safe because it can't do this.

 

Phase

Usually refers to one of the voltage carrying conductors in a power line or in an entrance cable to a building.

 

Phasing

The positioning of each phase of the circuit on a utility line with respect to the other phases so as to minimize EMFs through cancellation.

 

Power Line Frequency EMFs

Otherwise known as ‘extremely low frequency' (ELF) electromagnetic fields (see above). The frequencies used are typically in the 50 – 60 Hz range. These frequencies are what typically should be found on household wiring.

 

Radiation

A term for energy which leaves its source and travels. Power frequencies as found in electrical wiring generate negligible radiation. Radio frequencies and above are true radiating sources.

 

Radio Frequency Radiation (RF)

Radio frequency radiation are high frequency EMFs in the range 10 MHz-300 GHz. This category of EMFs is transferred through the air; the term “wireless” is often used. They relate essentially to telecommunication devices like cell phones, WiFi etc. Click here for a more detailed explanation of radio frequency radiation.

 

Resistance

The property of a material to resist the flow of electrical current. Current flowing through resistance always results in dissipation of energy usually in the form of heat.

 

Service Drop

The overhead which brings power to a residence or business from the distribution line. It usually attaches to the eave of the building if overhead.

 

Shielding

Shielding is the word used to describe all the various means which are used to protect from electromagnetic field exposures. Typically this will involve placing a barrier between yourself and the source of an EMF. The effectiveness of shielding is called ‘shielding performance'.

 

Short circuit

An unintentional connection between hot and neutral conductors in a circuit or between two hots.

 

Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS)

A device used to convert electrical power and commonly found in many modern electrical devices that work at low voltage including smart meters, DECT phone chargers, computers etc. SMPS converts voltage and current (AC to DC) by constantly switching the source on and off to supply the needed voltage at the output. This switching can create dirty electricity. The alternative, linear mode power supply avoids this problem by offering a constant voltage but is less energy efficient and more expensive.

 

Stray Voltage

A misnomer, neutral current does not stray, it follows all available paths to complete the circuit back to the transformer or substation.

 

Tri-axial EMF Meter

A tri-axial EMF meter is a meter which gives a reading based on the 3 axes (X,Y and Z). To obtain the equivalent with a single axis meter, in any given location typically means you would have to take measurements on the x, y and z axes, square these numbers then add them together and take the square root. One of the best known Tri-axial EMF meters is the Trifield meter.

 

Tesla

A large unit of measure for magnetic fields. One tesla (T) equals 10,000 gauss. One microtesla equals 10 milligauss.

 

Three-Phase Service

A service that brings in all three phases from the power line plus the neutral. Common in commercial buildings.

 

Two-Phase Service

Service that brings in two of the three phases from the power line plus a neutral. This type of service always produces significant neutral current since the two phases never balance.

 

Very Low Frequency (VLF)

EMFs in the frequency range of 3 kHz to 30 kHz.

 

Volt

Used to measure electrical potential. Its the electrical force which propels current in a conductor. The usual comparison is with water. A volt is the pressure, like psi in water, but applied to electrons.

 

Volts per meter

Electric fields are usually measured in volts per meter (V/M).

 

Wavelength

The distance between waves. As frequency increases, wavelength decreases, and vice versa. At 60 Hz the wavelength is approximately 3,100 miles. At radio frequency ranges the wavelength is closer to thirty or forty feet.

 

If you're looking for more developed definitions I recommend you read Tracing EMFs in Building Wiring and Grounding by Karl Riley, which served as my reference guide in preparing the above.

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