ID Resources: Topic 11– Electromagnetic

Waves
Questions 1 and 4 4. Which of the equations provide a method for
The electric and magnetic fields are described by calculating electric flux?
Maxwell’s Equations below.
𝑄
I. ∮ 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝐴 = 𝜀𝑖𝑛 √ A. I only
0
II. ∮ 𝐵 ∙ 𝑑𝐴 = 0 B. II only
𝑑𝜙𝑚
III. ∮ 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑠 = − C. III only
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝜙
IV. ∮ 𝐵 ∙ 𝑑𝑠 = µ0 𝐼𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ + 𝜀0 µ0 𝑑𝑡𝑒 D. I and II only

1. Which of the above states that a changing electric
flux through a closed loop or an electric current
through the loop creates a magnetic field around the
loop?
5. Which one of Maxwell’s equations states that a
changing electric field produces a magnetic field?
A. Gauss’s law for magnetism

A. I only B. Biot-Savart law

B. II only √ C. Ampere-Maxwell law

C. III only D. Faraday’s law

√ D. IV only
6. When light (or other electromagnetic radiation)
travels across a given region, which of the following
2. Which of the equations must be modified if is/are oscillating?
magnetic monopoles are discovered?
I. Electric field
A. I only II. Magnetic field
III. Energy
√ B. II only
C. III only A. I only
D. IV only B. II only

C. III only
3. Which of the equations is associated with the
Ampere-Maxwell law? √ D. I and II only

A. I only 7. When electromagnetic radiation travels across a

B. II only given region, what is being transported?

C. III only √ A. Energy

√ D. IV only B. Magnetic field
C. Electric charges
D. Oscillating fields

Page 1 of 8
8. In general, which condition of motion MUST be met 12. Which electromagnetic wave has the highest
with regards to a charged particle if it is in the frequency?
process of emitting electromagnetic waves?
A. Infrared waves
√ A. Accelerates
B. Radio waves
B. Moves in a circle
C. Ultraviolet rays
C. Moves at constant velocity
√ D. Gamma rays
D. Moves at the speed of light
13. Which of the following is/are true regarding
9. Electromagnetic waves are caused due to electromagnetic waves?
oscillating _____.
I. They consists of electric and magnetic fields
I. Matter II. They can travel through vacuum
II. Electric fields III. They do not involve moving charges or
III. Magnetic fields current

A. I only A. I only
B. II inly B. II only
C. III only C. III only
√ D. II and III only √ D. I, II and III

10. Which of the following statements about 14. The range of electromagnetic waves placed in a
electromagnetic waves in a vacuum is/are true? certain order is called the ______.

I. The electric and magnetic fields have equal √ A. Electromagnetic spectrum

amplitudes
II. The electric field carries the same amount of B. Electromagnetic wavelength
energy as the magnetic field C. Electromagnetic frequency
III. The frequency of the magnetic field is the
same as the frequency of the electric field D. Electromagnetic field

15. Electromagnetic waves can transfer energy

A. I only
without a(n) ______.
B. II only
C. III only A. electric field

√ D. II and III B. magnetic field

√ C. medium
11. Which electromagnetic waves have the longest
change in either a magnetic or an electric
wavelengths and lowest frequencies? D.
field
A. Infrared waves
16. In vacuum, all electromagnetic waves have the
√ B. Radio waves same _____.
C. Ultraviolet rays A. wavelength

D. Gamma rays B. frequency

√ C. speed
D. amplitude

Page 2 of 8
17. In an electromagnetic wave in free space, the 21. What is the wavelength used by a radio station
electric and magnetic fields are ____. that broadcasts at a frequency of 920 kHz?

Parallel to one another and parallel to the A. 175 m

A.
direction of wave propagation
B. 226 m
Perpendicular to one another and parallel to
B. C. 276 m
the direction of wave propagation
Perpendicular to one another and √ D. 326 m
√ C. perpendicular to the direction of wave
propagation 22. What is the frequency of 20 mm microwaves?
Parallel to one another and perpendicular to
D.
the direction of wave propagation A. 100 MHz

18. Which one of the following lists give the correct B. 400 MHz
order of the electromagnetic waves from longer √ C. 15 GHz
wavelength to shorter wavelength?
D. 73 GHz
Radio waves, infrared, microwaves,
A. 23. A certain part of the electromagnetic spectrum
ultraviolet, visible, x-rays, gamma rays
ranges from 200 nm to 400 nm. What is the highest
Radio waves, ultraviolet, x-rays, microwaves, frequency associated with this portion of the
B.
infrared, visible, gamma rays spectrum?
Radio waves, microwaves, visible, x-rays,
C.
infrared, ultraviolet, gamma rays A. 1.50 × 1014 𝐻𝑧
Radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible, B. 7.50 × 1014 𝐻𝑧
√ D.
ultraviolet, x-rays, gamma rays
√ C. 1.50 × 1015 𝐻𝑧
19. Which of the following consists of waves that D. 7.50 × 1015 𝐻𝑧
vibrate in one direction only?
24. The distance between two asteroids is 1600 km.
√ A. Polarized light How much time does it take for a light signal to go
B. Unpolarized light from one asteroid to the other?

C. Electromagnetic waves A. 4.5 ms

D. Mechanical waves √ B. 5.3 ms
C. 13 ms
20. Electromagnetic waves are classified as ______.
D. 19 ms
A. Longitudinal waves
√ B. Transverse waves 25. Polarized light consists of waves ____ with a
specific pattern.
C. Mechanical waves
D. Electrical waves A. fixed
√ B. oscillating
C. combining
D. traveling

Page 3 of 8
26. A polarizing filter is placed in front of an 27. Two polarizing filters are placed in front of a light
unpolarized light source as shown below. source.

If the axis of the two filters are perpendicular to each

How much of light is blocked by this single polarizing other, how much of the light is blocked by them?
filter?
A. 0%
A. 0% B. 50%
√ B. 50% C. 75%
C. 75% √ D. 100%
D. 100%

Free Response:

1. Predictions made by Maxwell led to the development of the electromagnetic wave theory.

a. State and explain the four basic laws/equations on which the theory was developed.
The four equations for the fields are called Maxwell’s equations:
1. Gauss’s law: Charges create electric fields
2. Gauss’s law of magnetism: There are no isolated magnetic poles
3. Faraday’s law: Electric fields can also be created by changing magnetic fields
4. Ampere-Maxwell’s law: Magnetic fields can be created either by currents or changing magnetic
fields.

b. What are electromagnetic waves?

They are self-sustaining oscillations of electric and magnetic fields that travel through space
without the presence of charges or current.

c. What does the theory state about light?

Maxwell calculated the speed of electromagnetic waves to be equal to the speed of light. He
concluded that visible light and other electromagnetic waves consist of fluctuating electric and
magnetic fields traveling through empty space, with each varying field inducing the other

d. Is it possible to have a purely electric wave propagating through empty space? Explain your
answer.
No. A purely electric wave would have a varying electric field, such a field necessarily generates a
magnetic field through Ampere’s law so a purely electric wave is impossible.

e. Is it possible to have a purely magnetic wave propagating through empty space? Explain your
answer
No. A purely magnetic wave would have a varying magnetic field, such a field necessarily generates
an electric field through Faraday’s law so a purely magnetic wave is impossible.

Page 4 of 8
2. State the predictions made by Maxwell based on Maxwell’s equations to develop the electromagnetic
wave theory.
According to Maxwell’s equations:
• Electric field lines originate on positive charges and terminate on negative charges
• Magnetic field lines always form closed loops
• A varying magnetic field induces an emf
• Magnetics fields are generated by moving charges

Maxwell stated that oscillating charges, like those in AC circuits, produce changing electric fields. He
predicted that these changing fields would propagate from the source as waves. The waves predicted
by Maxwell would consist of oscillating electric and magnetic fields- defined to be an electromagnetic
wave (EM wave). Maxwell calculated that electromagnetic waves would propagate with the speed of
light.

3. For each of the descriptions in the table, name the corresponding law and the equation.

Description Law Equation

The net electric flux through a closed 𝑞𝑒𝑛𝑐

Gauss’s law for electric
surface is proportional to the net enclosed ∮ 𝐸⃗ . 𝑑𝐴 =
fields 𝜀0
electric charge

The net magnetic flux through a closed

Gauss’s Law for ⃗ . 𝑑𝐴 = 0
surface is zero (no magnetic monopoles ∮𝐵
Magnetic Fields
exist).

An electric field is induced by a changing Faraday’s Law of 𝑑𝜙𝐵

∮ 𝐸⃗ . 𝑑𝑠 = −
magnetic flux. Induction 𝑑𝑡

A magnetic field is induced by a changing 𝑑𝜙𝐵

Maxwell-Ampere Law ⃗ . 𝑑𝑠 = µ0 𝜀0
∮𝐵 + µ0 𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐
electric flux or by a current. 𝑑𝑡

4. Compare and contrast the properties of visible light, ultraviolet rays, and X-rays.

• Visible light, ultraviolet rays, and X-rays are all parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, and travel at
the same speed.
• Humans can see visible light, but not ultraviolet rays or X-rays.
• Ultraviolet rays have shorter wavelengths, higher frequencies, and higher energy than visible light.
• X-rays have shorter wavelengths, higher frequencies, and higher energy than ultraviolet rays.

5. A cordless phone operates at a frequency of 900 𝑀𝐻𝑧. What is the wavelength of the electromagnetic
wave used by this phone?
𝑐
𝜆=
𝑓
3.0 × 108 𝑚/𝑠
𝜆= = 0.33 𝑚
900 × 106 𝐻𝑧

Page 5 of 8
6. The figure below shows an electromagnetic spectrum.

a. Which letter indicates X-rays?

D

b. Which letter shows the type of wave that can be seen by the human eye?
B

c. Name the type of wave labeled A and C.

A: Infrared
C: Ultraviolet

7. Answer the questions below on electromagnetic waves.

a. List the electromagnetic waves in the order of low to high frequencies.

Radio waves → Microwaves → Infrared → Visible light → Ultraviolet → x-rays → Gamma rays

b. Which of the following statements about electromagnetic waves in free space are true? Tick all that
apply.

❐ The wavelengths of the visible waves are some of the shortest electromagnetic waves
❐ The higher-frequency travel faster than the lower-frequency waves
❐ The wavelengths of the visible waves are some of the longest electromagnetic waves
❐ The electric field vector is always at right angles to the magnetic field vector
❐ The higher-frequency waves have shorter wavelengths than the lower-frequency waves
❐ The electric field carries the same amount of energy as the magnetic field
❐ The electric and magnetic fields have equal amplitudes
❐ The frequency of the magnetic field is the same as the frequency of the electric field

Page 6 of 8
8. Nonpolarized light of intensity I0 is incident on a polarizing filter, and the emerging light strikes a second
polarizing filter, as shown.

a. What is the light intensity emerging from the first polarizing filter?
𝐼0
𝐼1 =
2

b. What is the light intensity emerging from the second polarizing filter?
𝐼2 = 𝐼1 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃2
𝐼0 𝐼0 1 2
𝐼2 = (cos 45°)2 = ( )
2 2 √2
𝐼0
𝐼2 =
4

9. Unpolarized light is passed through polarizer 1. The light then goes though polarizer 2 with its plane of
polarization at 45.0° to that of polarizer 1. Polarizer 3 is placed after polarizer 2. Polarizer 3 has its plane of
polarization at 45° to the plane of polarization of polarizer 2 and at 90° to that of polarizer 1 as shown
below.

What fraction of the intensity of the original light 𝐼0 gets through:

a. The polarizer 2?
𝐼2 = 𝐼1 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃2
𝐼0 2
𝐼0 1 2
𝐼2 = (cos 45°) = ( )
2 2 √2
1
𝐼2 = (𝐼0 ) = 0.25(𝐼0 )
4

Page 7 of 8
b. The polarizer 3?
𝐼3 = 𝐼2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃2
𝐼0 2
𝐼0 1 2
𝐼3 = ( ) (cos 45°) = ( ) ( )
4 4 √2
𝐼0
𝐼3 = = 0.125(𝐼0 )
8

c. Suppose the second polarizer is removed. What is the intensity of light transmitted by the two (i.e.,
first and third) polarizers now?
Zero. Light passed by the first polarizer is polarized along the vertical direction. Without the second
polarizer to rotate the polarization direction, none of the vertically-polarized light gets through the
third polarizer, which passes light polarized in the horizontal direction.

Page 8 of 8