In telecommunication, the term electrical length has the following meanings: BlackBerry 7100t Telecommunication refers to communication over long distances. ...

1. Of a transmission medium, its length expressed as a multiple or submultiple of the wavelength of a periodic electromagnetic or electrical signal propagating within the medium. A transmission medium is any material substance, such as fiber-optic cable, twisted-wire pair, coaxial cable, dielectric-slab waveguide, water, or air, that can be used for the propagation of signals, usually in the form of modulated radio, light, or acoustic waves, from one point to another. ... The wavelength is the distance between repeating units of a wave pattern. ... Signaling, or signal, may mean: Look up signal in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Note 1: The wavelength may be expressed in radians or in artificial units of angular measure, such as degrees. Note 2 : In both coaxial cables and optical fibers, the velocity of propagation is approximately two-thirds that of free space. Consequently, the wavelength will be approximately two-thirds that in free space, and the electrical length, approximately 1.5 times the physical length. Coaxial cable is an electrical cable consisting of a round conducting wire, surrounded by an insulating spacer, surrounded by a cylindrical conducting sheath, and usually surrounded by a final insulating layer. ... The word propagation can mean: Multiplication or increase, as by natural reproduction. ... In physics, free space is a concept of electromagnetic theory, corresponding roughly to the vacuum, the baseline state of the electromagnetic field, or the replacement for the electromagnetic aether. ...

2. Of a transmission medium, its physical length multiplied by the ratio of (a) the propagation time of an electrical or electromagnetic signal through the medium to (b) the propagation time of an electromagnetic wave in free space over a distance equal to the physical length of the medium in question. 8:17 am, August 6, 1945, Japanese time. ... Electromagnetic radiation is a propagating wave in space with electric and magnetic components. ... The word medium has a number of uses: Medium is an average or mean in a range of sizes or conditions. ...

Note: The electrical length of a physical medium will always be greater than its physical length. For example, in coaxial cables, distributed resistances, capacitances and inductances impede the propagation of the signal. In an optical fiber, interaction of the lightwave with the materials of which the fiber is made, and fiber geometry, affect the velocity of propagation of the signal. The word propagation can mean: Multiplication or increase, as by natural reproduction. ... Signaling, or signal, may mean: Look up signal in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Optical fibers An optical fiber is a transparent thin fiber, usually made of glass or plastic, for transmitting light. ...

3. Of an antenna, the effective length of an element, usually expressed in wavelengths. A yagi antenna Most simply, an antenna is an electronic component designed to send or receive radio waves. ...

Note 1: The electrical length is in general different from the physical length.

Note 2: By the addition of an appropriate reactive element (capacitive or inductive), the electrical length may be made significantly shorter or longer than the physical length.

Source: from Federal Standard 1037C Federal Standard 1037C entitled Telecommunications: Glossary of Telecommunication Terms is a U.S. Federal Standard, issued by the General Services Administration pursuant to the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended. ...