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ELECROMAGNET WAVES

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Q.1 Prove that the unit of is that of velocity, using unit of 𝜇0 and 𝜀𝑜 .
√ 𝜇0 𝜀 𝑜

Q.2 A 1000 W bulb is kept at the centre of a spherical surface and is at a distance of 10 m from

the surface. Calculate the force acting on the surface of the sphere by the electromagnetic

waves, along with Eo, Bo, and intensity I. Take the working efficiency of the bulb to be 2.5 %

and consider it as a point source. 𝜀𝑜 = 8.85 x 10-12 SI and c = 3.0 x 108 ms-1. Also calculate the

energy density on the surface

Q.3 The magnetic field of an electromagnetic plane wave travelling along the negative X-

direction is given by By = 2 x 10-7 sin (0.5 x 103 x + 1.5 x 1011 t) T. Calculate (a) the wavelength

and frequency of the wave. (b) Write the equation of the electric field.

[Ans. : 𝜆 = 1.26 cm, f = 23.9 GHz, Ez = 60 sin(0.5 x 103 x + 1.5 x 1011 t) Vm-1]

Q.4 5 % of the total energy of a 100 W bulb is converted into visible light. Calculate the average

intensity at a spherical surface which is at a distance of 1 m from the bulb. Consider the bulb

to be a point source and let the medium be isotropic. [Ans. : 0.4 Wm-2]

Q.5 The maximum electric field at a distance of 10 m from an isotropic point source of light is 3.0

Vm-1. Calculate (a) the maximum value of magnetic field, (b) average intensity of the light at

that place, and (c) the power of the source. [c = 3 X 108 ms-1, 𝜀𝑜 = 8.854 x 10-12 C2 N-2 m-2]

[Ans. : Bo = 10-8 T, I = 1.195 x 10-2 Wm-2, P = 15 W]

Q.6 An observer is at 2 m from an isotropic point source of light emitting 40 W power. What are

the rms values of the electric and magnetic fields due to the source at the position of the

observer ? [c = 3 X 108 ms-1, 𝜀𝑜 = 8.854 x 10-12 C2 N-2 m-2]

[Ans. : Erms = 17.3 V m-1 , Brms = 5.77 x 10-8 T]

Q.7 A plane electromagnetic wave travelling along X-direction has electric field of amplitude 300

V m-1, directed along the Y-axis. (a) What is the intensity of the wave ? (b) If the wave falls on
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a perfectly absorbing sheet of area 3.0 m2, at what rate is the momentum delivered to the

sheet and what is the radiation pressure exerted on the sheet ?

[Take : c = 3 X 108 ms-1, 𝜀𝑜 = 8.854 x 10-12 C2 N-2 m-2]

[Ans. : 119.529 W m-2, 1.195 x 10-6 N, 3.98 x 10-7 Pa]

𝑁
Q.8 An electromagnetic wave of electric field E = 10 sin (𝜔t — kx) 𝐶 is incident normal to the

cross-sectional area of a cylinder of 10 cm2 and having length 100 cm, lying along X-axis. Find

(a) the energy density, (b) energy contained in the cylinder, (c) the intensity of the wave, (d)

momentum transferred to the cross-sectional area of the cylinder in 1 s, considering total

absorption, (e) radiation pressure. [Take : c = 3 X 108 ms-1, 𝜀𝑜 = 8.854 x 10-12 C2 N-2 m-2]

[Ans. : (a) 4.427 x 10-10 J m-3, (b) 4.427 x 10-13 J, (c) 1.3278 x 10-1 Wm-2 (d) 1.475 x 10-21 N (e)

1.475 X 10-18 N m-2.]

MCQ
1. The electromagnetic waves in the range of wavelengths from 3 mm to 100 cm are used

for the purpose of satellite communication. The range of frequencies corresponding to

this range of wavelengths is ……………. [c = 3 x 108 ms-1 ]

(A) 30 MHz to 104 MHz (B) 300 MHz to 105 MHz

(C) 3 MHz to 3 X 108 MHz (D) 3 MHz to 106 MHz

2. Astronomers have found that the electromagnetic waves of wavelength 21 cm are

continuously reaching the Earth's surface. The frequency of this radiation is ………….

[c = 3 x 108 m s-1]

(A) 1.43 GHz (B) 1.43 MHz (C) 1.43 kHz (D) 1.43 Hz

3. If vg, vx and vm are the velocities of the 𝛾-rays, X-rays and microwaves respectively in

space, then

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(A) vg > vx > vm (B) vg < vx < vm (C) vx > vm > vg (D) vg =vg = vm

4. If 𝜇𝑟 be relative permeability and K be dielectric constant of a given medium, then the

refractive index of the medium is n = …………….

1 𝜇
(A) √𝜇𝑟 𝐾 (B) √𝜇𝑜 𝜀𝑜 (C) 𝜇 (D) √ 𝐾𝑟
𝑟𝐾

5. The maximum value of 𝐸⃗ in an electromagnetic wave is equal to 18 Vm-1. Thus the

⃗ is ……………..
maximum value of 𝐵

(A) 3 x 10-6 T (B) 6 X 10-8 T (C) 9 x 10-9 T (D) 2 x 10-10 T

6. An electromagnetic wave passing through the space is given by equations :

E = Eo sin(𝜔t — kx) and B = Bo sin(𝜔t — kx). Which of the following is true ?

𝐸 1
(A) Eo Bo = 𝜔k (B) Eo 𝜔 = Bo k (C) Eo k = Bo 𝜔 (D) 𝐵𝑜 = 𝜔𝑘
𝑜

7. A plane electromagnetic wave is travelling along the X-direction. The electric field vector

at an arbitrary point at a time is 𝐸⃗ = 6.3 𝑗̂ Vm-1. The magnetic field at that point at that

time is …………..

(A) 2.1 x 10-8 𝑘̂ T (B) - 2.1 x 10-8 𝑘̂T (C) 6.3 𝑘̂T (D) - 6.3𝑘̂ T

8. Two opposite charged particles oscillate about their mean equilibrium position in free

space, with a frequency of 109 Hz. The wavelength of the corresponding electromagnetic

wave produced is ………………

(A) 0.3 m (B) 3 x 1017 m (C) 109 m (D) 3.3 m

9. The wavelengths 5890 Å and 5896 Å of sodium doublet correspond to ……………. region of

the electromagnetic spectrum.

(A) infrared (B) visible light (C) ultraviolet (D) microwave

10. The frequency of an electromagnetic wave in free space is 2 MHz. When it passes through

a region of relative permittivity ℇ𝑟 = 4.0, then its wavelength …..... and frequency ……….

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(A) becomes double, becomes half (B) becomes double, remains constant

(C) becomes half, becomes double (D) becomes half, remains constant .

11. The rms value of electric field of the radiation coming from the Sun is 720 N/C. The

average radiation density is ………… Jm-3.

(A) 81.35 x 10-12 (B) 3.3 x 10-3 (C) 4.58 x 10-6 (D) 6.37 x 10-9

12. In the region closer to the oscillating charges, the phase difference between 𝐸⃗ and 𝐵
⃗

fields is …………. , and their magnitude quickly decreases as ……………… with distance r

from the source.

𝜋 𝜋
(A) 0, r-1 (B) 2 , r-3 (C) 2 , r-1 (D) 0, r-3

13. At large distances from the source, 𝐸⃗ and 𝐵

⃗ are in phase and the decrease in their

magnitude is comparatively slower with distance r as per …………, and these components

are called ………………. components.

(A) r-3, inductive (B) r-1, radiated (C) r-3, radiated (D) r-1, inductive

14. At room temperature, if the relative permittivity of water be 80, and the relative

permeability be 0.0222, then the velocity of light in water is ………… ms-1.

(A) 3 x 108 (B) 2.5 x 108 (C) 2.25 x 108 (D) 3.5 x 108

15. If the electric field associated with a radiation of frequency 10 MHz is E = 10 sin(kx — 𝜔t)
𝑚𝑉
, then its energy density is …………... Jm-3. [𝜀𝑜 = 8.85 x 10-12 C2 N-1 m-2]
𝑚

(A) 4.425 x 10-16 (B) 6.26 x 10-14 (C) 8.85 x 10-16 (D) 8.85 x 10-14

16. An electromagnetic wave coming from infinity, enters a medium from the vacuum. For

this wave ……………. is independent of the medium. [will not change in the medium]
𝜔
(A) 𝜔 (B) k (C) 𝑘 (D) 𝜆

17. For a radiation of 6 GHz passing through air, the wave number (number of waves) per 1 m

length is …………………. (1 GHz = 109 Hz).

(A) 3 (B) 5 (C) 20 (D) 30

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18. In Hertz's experiment the …………. of the electromagnetic waves is equal to the kinetic

energy of the charges oscillating between the two spheres.

(A) frequency (B) energy (C) wavelength (D) velocity.

19. The intensity of a plane electromagnetic wave with Bo = 1.0 x 10-4 T is ………….. wm-2

[c = 3 x 108 m s-1, 𝜇𝑜 = 4𝜋 x 10-7 NA-2]

(A) 2.38 x 106 (B) 1.19 x 106 (C) 6 x 105 (D) 4.76 x 106

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