Chapter Eight

ELECTROMAGNETIC
WAVES

MCQ I
8.1 One requires 11eV of energy to dissociate a carbon monoxide
molecule into carbon and oxygen atoms. The minimum frequency
of the appropriate electromagnetic radiation to achieve the
dissociation lies in
(a) visible region.
(b) infrared region.
(c) ultraviolet region.
(d) microwave region.
8.2 A linearly polarized electromagnetic wave given as
E = E o ˆi cos (kz – ω t ) is incident normally on a perfectly reflecting
infinite wall at z = a. Assuming that the material of the wall is optically
inactive, the reflected wave will be given as
(a) Er = – Eo ˆi cos (kz – ω t ) .

(b) E r = E o ˆi cos (kz + ω t ) .

21/04/2018
 Exemplar Problems–Physics

(c) E r = – Eo ˆi cos (kz + ω t ) .

(d) E = E ˆi sin (kz – ωt ) .
r o

8.3 Light with an energy flux of 20 W/cm2 falls on a non-reflecting

surface at normal incidence. If the surface has an area of 30 cm2.
the total momentum delivered (for complete absorption) during
30 minutes is
(a) 36 × 10–5 kg m/s.
(b) 36 × 10–4 kg m/s.
(c) 108 × 104 kg m/s.
(d) 1.08 × 107 kg m/s.

8.4 The electric field intensity produced by the radiations coming from
100 W bulb at a 3 m distance is E. The electric field intensity
produced by the radiations coming from 50 W bulb at the same
distance is

(a) E .
2
(b) 2E.

(c)
E
.
2
(d) 2E .

8.5 If E and B represent electric and magnetic field vectors of the

electromagnetic wave, the direction of propagation of electromagnetic
wave is along
(a) E.
(b) B.
(c) B × E.
(d) E × B.

8.6 The ratio of contributions made by the electric field and magnetic
field components to the intensity of an EM wave is
(a) c : 1
(b) c 2 : 1
(c) 1 : 1
(d) c :1

8.7 An EM wave radiates outwards from a dipole antenna, with E 0 as

the amplitude of its electric field vector. The electric field E0 which

48

21/04/2018
 Electromagnetic Waves

transports significant energy from the source falls off as

1
(a) r 3
1
(b) 2
r
1
(c)
r
(d) remains constant.

MCQ II
8.8 An electromognetic wave travels in vacuum along
z direction: E = ( E1ˆi + E 2 ˆj ) cos (kz − ωt ) . Choose the correct options
from the following:

(a) The associated magnetic field is given as

1
B= ( E ˆi – E 2 ˆj) cos (kz-ωt).
c 1
(b) The associated magnetic field is given as
1
B= ( E ˆi – E 2 ˆj) cos (kz-ωt).
c 1
(c) The given electromagnetic field is circularly polarised.
(d) The given electromagnetic wave is plane polarised.

8.9 An electromagnetic wave travelling along z-axis is given as:

E = E 0 cos (kz - ωt.). Choose the correct options from the following;

1ˆ 1 ˆ
(a) The associated magnetic field is given as B =
k × E = (k × E) .
c ω
(b) The electromagnetic field can be written in terms of the
ˆ).
associated magnetic field as E = c (B × k
ˆ . E = 0, k
(c) k ˆ . B=0 .

ˆ × E = 0, k
(d) k ˆ × B=0.

8.10 A plane electromagnetic wave propagating along x direction can

have the following pairs of E and B
(a) Ex, By.
(b) E y, Bz.
(c) Bx, Ey.
(d) E z, By.

49

21/04/2018
 Exemplar Problems–Physics

8.11 A charged particle oscillates about its mean equilibrium position

with a frequency of 109 Hz. The electromagnetic waves produced:
(a) will have frequency of 109 Hz.
(b) will have frequency of 2 × 109 Hz.
(c) will have a wavelength of 0.3 m.
(d) fall in the region of radiowaves.
8.12 The source of electromagnetic waves can be a charge
(a) moving with a constant velocity.
(b) moving in a circular orbit.
(c) at rest.
(d) falling in an electric field.

8.13 An EM wave of intensity I falls on a surface kept in vacuum and

exerts radiation pressure p on it. Which of the following are true?
(a) Radiation pressure is I/c if the wave is totally absorbed.
(b) Radiation pressure is I/c if the wave is totally reflected.
(c) Radiation pressure is 2I/c if the wave is totally reflected.
(b) Radiation pressure is in the range I/c < p < 2I/c for real surfaces.

VSA
8.14 Why is the orientation of the portable radio with respect to
broadcasting station important?

8.15 Why does microwave oven heats up a food item containing water
molecules most efficiently?

8.16 The charge on a parallel plate capacitor varies as q = q0 cos 2πνt.

The plates are very large and close together (area = A,
separation = d). Neglecting the edge effects, find the displacement
current through the capacitor?

8.17 A variable frequency a.c source is connected to a capacitor. How

will the displacement current change with decrease in frequency?

8.18 The magnetic field of a beam emerging from a filter facing a

floodlight is given by
B0 = 12 × 10–8 sin (1.20 × 107 z – 3.60 × 1015 t) T.
What is the average intensity of the beam?

8.19 Poynting vectors S is defined as a vector whose magnitude is equal

to the wave intensity and whose direction is along the direction of
1
wave propogation. Mathematically, it is given by S = E×B.
Show the nature of S vs t graph.
µ 0

50

21/04/2018
 Electromagnetic Waves

8.20 Professor C.V Raman surprised his students by suspending freely

a tiny light ball in a transparent vacuum chamber by shining a
laser beam on it. Which property of EM waves was he exhibiting?
Give one more example of this property.

SA
8.21 Show that the magnetic field B at a point in between the plates of

a parallel-plate capacitor during charging is ε 0 µr dE (symbols

2 dt
having usual meaning).

8.22 Electromagnetic waves with wavelength

(i) λ1 is used in satellite communication.

(ii) λ2 is used to kill germs in water purifies.

(iii) λ3 is used to detect leakage of oil in underground pipelines.

(iv) λ4 is used to improve visibility in runways during fog and mist

conditions.

(a) Identify and name the part of electromagnetic spectrum to

which these radiations belong.

(b) Arrange these wavelengths in ascending order of their

magnitude.

(c) Write one more application of each.

8.23 Show that average value of radiant flux density ‘S’ over a single
1
period ‘T’ is given by S = E02 .
2cµ0

8.24 You are given a 2µF parallel plate capacitor. How would you
establish an instantaneous displacement current of 1mA in the
space between its plates?

8.25 Show that the radiation pressure exerted by an EM wave of

intensity I on a surface kept in vacuum is I/c.

8.26 What happens to the intensity of light from a bulb if the

distance from the bulb is doubled? As a laser beam travels across
the length of a room, its intensity essentially remains constant.

51

21/04/2018
 Exemplar Problems–Physics

What geomatrical characteristic of LASER beam is responsible for

the constant intensity which is missing in the case of light from
the bulb?

8.27 Even though an electric field E exerts a force qE on a charged

particle yet the electric field of an EM wave does not contribute to
the radiation pressure (but transfers energy). Explain.

LA
Z
a 8.28 An infinitely long thin wire carrying a uniform linear static charge
density λ is placed along the z-axis (Fig. 8.1). The wire is set into
ˆ . Calculate
motion along its length with a uniform velocity v = v k z

1
y the poynting vector S = (E × B).
µo

8.29 Sea water at frequency ν = 4 × 108 Hz has permittivity ε ≈ 80 εo,

V permeability µ ≈ µo and resistivity ρ = 0.25 Ω–m. Imagine a parallel
x
plate capacitor immersed in sea water and driven by an alternating
voltage source V(t) = Vo sin (2π νt). What fraction of the conduction
current density is the displacement current density?

Fig. 8.1 8.30 A long straight cable of length l is placed symmetrically along
z-axis and has radius a(<<l). The cable consists of a thin wire and
a co-axial conducting tube. An alternating current I(t) = Io sin (2πνt)
flows down the central thin wire and returns along the co-axial
conducting tube. The induced electric field at a distance s from
sˆ
the wire inside the cable is E (s,t ) = µo I o νcos(2πνt ) In   k.
a 

(i) Calculate the displacement current density inside the cable.

(ii) Integrate the displacement current density across the cross-
section of the cable to find the total displacement current Id.
(iii) Compare the conduction current I0 with the dispalcement
current I od .

8.31 A plane EM wave travelling in vacuum along z direction is given

by E = E 0 sin(kz – ωt )ˆi and B = B0 sin(kz – ωt )ˆj .

(i) Evaluate  E.dl over the rectangular loop 1234 shown in

Fig 8.2.
(ii) Evaluate  B.ds over the surface bounded by loop 1234.

52

21/04/2018
 Electromagnetic Waves

–dφB E0 x
(iii) Use equation
dt  E.dl =
to prove B = c .
0

(iv) By using similar process and the equation

4 3
dφ E 1
 B.dl = µ0 I + ε 0 dt , prove that c = µ0ε 0 h

8.32 A plane EM wave travelling along z direction is described

1 2 z
by E = E 0 sin(kz – ωt )ˆi and B = B0 sin(kz – ωt )ˆj . Show
that
y Fig. 8.2
(i) The average energy density of the wave is given by
1 1 B20
u av = ε 0 E02 + .
4 4 µ0
(ii) The time averaged intensity of the wave is given by
1
I av = cε 0 E 02 .
2

53

21/04/2018