Simple novel qualitative approach for electromagnetic wave analysis of rectangular waveguides without usage of Maxwell´s equations

The paper presents a novel qualitative approach for the analysis of rectangular waveguides. The approach is based on understanding the nature and the behavior of the wave propagation outside and inside the waveguide, and the boundary conditions of the electric and magnetic fields on the waveguide walls. The six field components for TE or TM modes are concluded as well as the other properties of the wave. However, the approach is incomplete since the wave impedance in the guide is the only parameter which is undefined yet. The new approach is simple, versatile, and gives the reader good insight. It is very useful when used to emphasize the analysis to undergraduates. This analysis is limited to waveguides which are uniform longitudinally. However, the approach will be elaborated to handle waveguide discontinuities, junctions, rectangular cavities and other EM structures in the near future. The main advantage of the proposed approach is that it avoids the usual difficult solution of the wave equation by the method of variables although the results obtained with the proposed approach are the same. The results of the surveys on how the proposed approach improved the teaching/learning outcomes are discussed.