The magnetic field radiated from an antenna is produced by which electrical property?

The magnetic field radiated from an antenna is specifically produced by the flow of current. When alternating current (AC) flows through the antenna, it creates a magnetic field around the antenna due to Ampère's circuital law, which describes how magnetic fields are generated by electric currents. The direction and magnitude of the magnetic field vary with the changes in current, particularly in an AC signal.

While voltage is necessary to drive the current, it is the movement of charge (current) that directly results in the creation of the magnetic field. Resistance and capacitance relate to how electrical energy is dissipated and stored, respectively, but they do not directly generate a magnetic field in the same way that current does. Thus, understanding the pivotal role of current in antenna operation is essential for grasping how antennas transmit and receive electromagnetic waves.