JEE Main & Advanced Physics EM Waves JEE PYQ-Electro Magnetic Waves

  • question_answer
    A plane electromagnetic wave of wavelength\[\lambda \] has an intensity \[I.\] It is propagating along the positive\[Y-direction.\] The allowed expressions for the electric and magnetic fields are given by

    A) \[\vec{E}=\sqrt{\frac{I}{{{\varepsilon }_{0}}C}}\cos \left[ \frac{2\pi }{\lambda }(y-ct) \right]\hat{i};\vec{B}=\frac{1}{c}E\hat{k}\]

    B) \[\vec{E}=\sqrt{\frac{I}{{{\varepsilon }_{0}}C}}\cos \left[ \frac{2\pi }{\lambda }(y-ct) \right]\hat{k};\vec{B}=-\frac{1}{c}E\hat{i}\]

    C) \[\vec{E}=\sqrt{\frac{2I}{{{\varepsilon }_{0}}C}}\cos \left[ \frac{2\pi }{\lambda }(y-ct) \right]\hat{k};\vec{B}=+\frac{1}{c}E\hat{i}\]

    D) \[\vec{E}=\sqrt{\frac{2I}{{{\varepsilon }_{0}}C}}\cos \left[ \frac{2\pi }{\lambda }(y+ct) \right]\hat{k};\vec{B}=\frac{1}{c}E\hat{i}\]

    Correct Answer: A

    Solution :

    [c] E is the electric field vector, and B is the magnetic field vector of the EM wave. For electromagnetic waves E and B are always perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the direction of propagation. The direction of propagation is the direction of E x B. So, if the wave propagates in the +Y direction then the direction of E and B should be in +X and +Z or vice versa i.e +Z and +X respectively.
    Case 1.
    Let us suppose\[\vec{E}\] is in \[\hat{i}\]and\[\hat{B}\] is in\[\hat{k}\]
    Then\[\vec{E}\times \vec{B}\] will be in\[-\hat{j}\]
    Not Possible.
    Case 2.
    Let us suppose \[\vec{E}\]is in \[\hat{k}\]and \[\vec{B}\]is in\[\hat{i}\]
    Then \[\vec{E}\times \vec{B}\]will be in\[\hat{j}\]
    This is satisfying option [c]as the electric and magnetic field also propagate in positive y direction with time so\[(y-ct)\] should be there in wave equation.
    Also \[I=\frac{c{{\in }_{o}}}{2}|{{E}_{o}}{{|}^{2}}\]
    \[|{{E}_{o}}|=\sqrt{\frac{2I}{c{{\in }_{o}}}}\]
    From these, we can say that option [c] would be the best option.


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