3/22/2019 Homework #13 (phy 112)

Homework #13 (phy 112)

Due: 11:00pm on Friday, March 29, 2019
To understand how points are awarded, read the Grading Policy for this assignment.

Electric and Magnetic Field Vectors Conceptual Question

Part A
The electric and magnetic field vectors at a specific point in space and time are illustrated.
Based on this information, in what direction does the electromagnetic wave propagate?

Hint 1. Right-hand rule for electromagnetic wave velocity

In an electromagnetic wave, the electric and magnetic field vectors are perpendicular to each other. The wave propagates in a direction
perpendicular to both of the field vectors. Since the two field vectors define a two-dimensional plane, there are two distinct directions that are
perpendicular to the plane. The right-hand rule specifies in which of these two directions the wave travels.
To employ the right hand rule, do the following:

1. Point the fingers of your right hand in the direction of the electric field vector.
2. Rotate your hand until you can curl your fingers in the direction of the magnetic field vector.
The direction of your thumb is then the direction of the velocity of the electromagnetic wave.

If the electric and magnetic field vectors at a specific point in space and time are as shown below, applying the right-hand rule should result in your
thumb pointing downward, in the –y direction. Therefore, the velocity of the electromagnetic wave is in the –y direction.

ANSWER:

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+x

–x

+y

–y

+z

–z

at a +45∘ angle in the xy plane

Correct

Part B

The electric and magnetic field vectors at a specific point in space and time are illustrated. (E⃗ 
and B⃗  are in the xy plane. Both vectors make 45∘ angles with the + y axis.) Based on this
information, in what direction does the electromagnetic wave propagate?

ANSWER:

+x

–x

+y

–y

+z

–z

at a –45∘ angle in the xy plane

Correct

Part C
The magnetic field vector and the direction of propagation of an electromagnetic wave are illustrated. Based on this information, in what direction does the
electric field vector point?

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3/22/2019 Homework #13 (phy 112)

Hint 1. Working backward with the right-hand rule

Since the velocity of the wave is given, the orientation of your right thumb is known. Placing your right thumb along the +x axis should inform you
that the electric field vector must be in the yz plane. Since the electric field must also be perpendicular to the magnetic field, and be "curlable" into
the magnetic field, only one option remains for the orientation of the electric field vector.

ANSWER:

+x

–x

+y

–y

+z

–z

at a +45∘ angle in the xz plane

Correct

Part D

The electric field vector and the direction of propagation of an electromagnetic wave are illustrated. (E⃗ is in xz plane and makes a 45∘ angle with the + x
axis.) Based on this information, in what direction does the magnetic field vector point?

Hint 1. Working backward with the right-hand rule

Since the velocity of the wave is given, the orientation of your right thumb is known. Placing your right thumb along the +z axis should inform you
that the magnetic field vector must be in the xz plane. With your fingers in the direction of the electric field, there is only one orientation of the
magnetic field that your fingers can "curl" into.

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3/22/2019 Homework #13 (phy 112)
ANSWER:

+x

–x

+y

–y

+z

–z

at a –45∘ angle in the xz plane

Correct

± Find the Wavelength

Assume the following waves are propagating in air.

Part A

Calculate the wavelength λ1 for gamma rays of frequency f 1 = 7.40×1021 Hz .

Express your answer in meters.

Hint 1. How to set up the problem

Recall the formula c = λf .

ANSWER:

λ1 = 4.05×10−14 m

Correct

Part B
Now express this gamma-ray wavelength in nanometers.
Express your answer in nanometers.

Hint 1. Relation between meters and nanometers

1 meter = 10
9
nanometers .

ANSWER:

λ1 = 4.05×10−5 nm

Correct

Part C

Calculate the wavelength λ2 for visible light of frequency f 2 = 6.20×1014 Hz .

Express your answer in meters.

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Hint 1. How to set up the problem

Recall the formula c = λf .

ANSWER:

λ2 = 4.84×10−7 m

Correct

Part D
Now express this visible wavelength in nanometers.
Express your answer in nanometers.

Hint 1. Relation between meters and nanometers

1 meter = 10
9
nanometers .

ANSWER:

λ2 = 484 nm

Correct

A message from your instructor...

The hints may be useful for this one.

Electromagnetic Waves Ranking Task

Part A
Rank these electromagnetic waves on the basis of their speed (in vacuum).

Rank from fastest to slowest. To rank items as equivalent, overlap them.

Hint 1. Relating speed, frequency, and wavelength

Like all waves, the relationship among wave speed, frequency, and wavelength is
c = f λ.

ANSWER:

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3/22/2019 Homework #13 (phy 112)

Reset Help

fastest slowest
green light
yellow light
infrared light
AM radio wave
X ray
FM radio wave

The correct ranking cannot be determined.

Correct

Part B
Rank these electromagnetic waves on the basis of their wavelength.
Rank from longest to shortest. To rank items as equivalent, overlap them.

Hint 1. Electromagnetic spectrum

Different wavelength electromagnetic waves have historically been given different names. The traditional names for the various wavelengths are
listed below.

Hint 2. Radio waves

By examining a radio dial, you will discover that FM radio stations broadcast with frequencies between 88 and 108 MHz (megahertz, or millions of
cycles per second) and AM radio stations broadcast between 520 and 1720 kHz (kilohertz, or thousands of cycles per second).

Hint 3. Visible light

The lowest frequency visible light is red, and the frequencies of visible light increase in the order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and then violet.

ANSWER:

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3/22/2019 Homework #13 (phy 112)

Reset Help

longest shortest

AM radio wave FM radio wave infrared light yellow light green light X ray

The correct ranking cannot be determined.

Correct

Part C
Rank these electromagnetic waves on the basis of their frequency.

Rank from largest to smallest. To rank items as equivalent, overlap them.

ANSWER:

Reset Help

largest smallest

X ray green light yellow light infrared light FM radio wave AM radio wave

The correct ranking cannot be determined.

Correct

Problem 23.14

Consider each of the electric- and magnetic-field orientations given next. In each case, what is the direction of propagation of the wave?

Part A
⃗ 
E in the +x direction, B⃗  in the +y direction.

ANSWER:

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3/22/2019 Homework #13 (phy 112)

+ x direction

- x direction

+ y direction

- y direction

+ z direction

- z direction

Correct

Part B
⃗ 
E in the −y direction, B⃗  in the +x direction.

ANSWER:

+ x direction

- x direction

+ y direction

- y direction

+ z direction

- z direction

Correct

Part C
⃗ 
E in the +z direction, B⃗  in the −x direction.
ANSWER:

+ x direction

- x direction

+ y direction

- y direction

+ z direction

- z direction

Correct

Part D
⃗ 
E in the +y direction, B⃗  in the −z direction.

ANSWER:

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3/22/2019 Homework #13 (phy 112)

+ x direction

- x direction

+ y direction

- y direction

+ z direction

- z direction

Correct

A message from your instructor...

This one is for extra credit. Read the passage carefully. Note that the vertical axis on the plot is logarithmic. If you are not sure how to read this make sure to
look at the hint when you get to part d. Use the hint for part E.

Electromagnetic Waves and Human Vision

The photoreceptors in the human eye, called rods and cones, have different sensitivities to different wavelengths of electromagnetic waves. (Notice that the y
axis in the figure is a logarithmic scale.)

The rods, which number over 100 million, can only be activated by a certain range of wavelengths,
but they do not pass any color information to the brain. In other words, they note differences in
shades of grey (from black to white) and are responsible for a person's ability to see in dim light.
Cones, which number around 6 million, give us color vision. Cones come in three different kinds:
64% of cones are sensitive to long wavelengths of visible light (toward the red end of the spectrum),
32% are sensitive to medium wavelengths, and the remaining 2% are sensitive to short wavelengths
(toward the blue end of the spectrum). Colors are differentiated on the basis of the extent to which
visible light stimulates each kind of cone.

Part A
Do rods have their peak sensitivity at a higher or lower frequency than cones?

Hint 1. Relationship between wavelength and frequency

For light, the product of wavelength and frequency is equal to the speed of light, a constant. Therefore, wavelength and frequency are inversely
proportional.

ANSWER:

higher

lower

Correct

Part B
Do rods and cones have similar sensitivities near the red or near the violet edge of the visible spectrum?

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3/22/2019 Homework #13 (phy 112)

Hint 1. Visible light

The longest wavelength visible light is red, at 700 nm, and the wavelengths of visible light decrease in order from red to violet, at about 400 nm.

ANSWER:

red

violet

Correct

Part C
Is it easier to detect a dim red source or a dim violet source of light?

Hint 1. Which curve to use

Recall that the rods are responsible for a person's ability to see in dim light.

ANSWER:

red

violet

Correct

Part D
At 500 nm, which of the following statements is true?

Hint 1. Logarithmic scales

If an axis scale is logarithmic, the labels on the scale represent the power of 10 to which the quantity should be raised. For example, the "5" on the y
axis can be thought of as representing 10 5 = 100, 000 whereas the "6" represents 10 6 = 1, 000, 000 .

ANSWER:

Rods are about 1000 times more sensitive than cones.

Rods are about 3 times more sensitive than cones.

Rods and cones are about equally sensitive.

Cones are about 3 times more sensitive than rods.

Cones are about 1000 times more sensitive than rods.

Correct

Part E
Since rods are about 1000 times more sensitive than cones (at 500 nm), they should be able to detect smaller values of the electric field. Assuming rods
and cones are sensitive to the average energy density of an electromagnetic wave, which of the following statements is correct?

Hint 1. Average energy density of an electromagnetic wave

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The average value of the total energy density of an electromagnetic wave is proportional to the square of the maximum electric field value of the
wave:
1 2
ū = ϵ 0 Emax .
2

Hint 2. Relating energy density to electric field

Since the energy density in an electromagnetic wave is proportional to the square of the electric field, the electric field is proportional to the square
root of the energy density:
u ∝ E ,
2

or

E ∝ √u .

Thus, a wave with twice the energy density only has √2 = 1.41 times as large an electric field.

ANSWER:

Rods are able to detect electric fields 1000 times smaller than the fields detectable by cones.

Rods are able to detect electric fields 1000/3 = 333 times smaller than the fields detectable by cones.
−−−−
Rods are able to detect electric fields √1000 = 32 times smaller than the fields detectable by cones.

Rods are able to detect electric fields 3 times smaller than the fields detectable by cones.

Correct

Score Summary:
Your score on this assignment is 128%.
You received 18 out of a possible total of 18 points, plus 5 points of extra credit.

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