ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

 z  
1. An EM wave from air enters a medium. The electric fields are E1 = E01 xˆcos  2 v  − t   in
  c 
air and E2 = E02 xcos
ˆ [k (2 z − ct )] in a medium, where the wave number k and frequency 𝜐 refer
to their values in air. The medium is non-magnetic. If r and r refer to the relative
1 2

permittivities of air and medium respectively, which of the following options is correct ?
(2018)
r1 1
(a) =
r2 2
r1
(b) =4
r2
r1
(c) =2
r2
r1 1
(d) =
r2 4

3
2. A monochromatic beam of light has a frequency v = 1012 Hz and is propagating along the
2
iˆ + ˆj
direction . It is polarized along the kˆ direction. The acceptable form of the magnetic field is :
2
(2018)
E0  iˆ − ˆj   4 (iˆ − ˆj ) 
(a)   cos 10 .r − (3 1012 )t 
C  2   2 
E0 ˆ  (iˆ + ˆj ) 
(b) k cos 104 .r + (3 1012 )t 
C  2 
E (iˆ − ˆj )  (iˆ + ˆj ) 
(c) 0 cos 104 .r + (3 1012 )t 
C 2  2 
ˆ
E (iˆ + ˆj + k )  (iˆ + ˆj ) 
(d) 0 cos 104 .r + (3 1012 )t 
C 3  2 

3. A plane electromagnetic wave of wavelength λ has an intensity I. It is propagating along the

positive Y-direction. The allowed expressions for the electric and magnetic fields are given by :
(2018)
2I  2  1
(a) E = cos  ( y − ct )  kˆ; B = + Eiˆ
 0c    c
I  2  1
(b) E = cos  ( y − ct )  kˆ; B = + Eiˆ
 0c   c
I  2  1
(c) E = cos  ( y − ct )  kˆ; B = Eiˆ
2 0 c   c
 I  2  1
(d) E = cos  ( y + ct )  kˆ; B = Eiˆ
 0c   c

4. One requires 11 eV 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 the
(a) Visible region
(b) Infrared region
(c) Ultraviolet region
(d) Microwave region

5. A linearly polarized electromagnetic wave, given by E = E0iˆ cos(kz − 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 by
(a) Er = − E0iˆ cos(kz − t )
(b) Er = E0iˆ cos(kz + t )
(c) Er = − E0iˆ cos(kz + t )
(d) Er = E0iˆ cos(kz − t )

6. Light with an energy flux of 20 W cm-2 falls on a non-reflecting surface at normal incidence. lithe
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-1
(b) 36 × 10-4 kg m s-1
(c) 108 × 104 kg m s-1
(d) 1.08 × 107 kg m s-1

7. The electric field intensity produced by the radiations coming from a 100 W bulb at 3 m distance is
E. The electric field intensity produced by the radiations coming from a 50 W bulb at the same
distance is
E
(a)
2
(b) 2E
E
(c)
2
(d) 2E

8. If E and B represent the 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
(d)
9. 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) c2 : 1
(c) 1 : 1
(d) c :1

10. An EM wave radiates outwards from a dipole antenna, with E0 as the amplitude of its electric
field vector. The electric field E0 which transports significant energy from the source falls off as
1
(a)
r3
1
(b) 2
r
1
(c)
r
(d) remains constant

11. A plane electromagnetic wave propagating along x-direction can have the following pair of E and
B
(a) Ex , By
(b) E y , Bz
(c) Bx , E y
(d) E z , Bx

12. A charged particle oscillates about its mean equilibrium position with a frequency of109 Hz. The
electromagnetic waves produced:
(a) will have a frequency of 2 × 109 Hz
(b) will have a speed of 30 ms-1
(c) will have a wavelength of 0.3 m
(d) fall in the region of infrared waves

13. 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) in an electric field

14. At every instant, the ratio of the magnitude of the electric field to the magnetic field in an
electromagnetic wave in vacuum is equal to
(a) the speed of radiowaves
(b) the speed of γ-rays
(c) the speed of light
(d) all of the above

15. A parallel plate capacitor consists of two circular plates each of radius 10 cm, separated by a
distance of 5 mm. By an external source, the capacitor is being charged. The charging current is
0.1 A. The rate of change of potential difference between the plates is nearly
(a) 3.6 × 108 V s-1
(b) 3.6 × 109 V s-1
(c) 1.8 × 108 V s-1
(d) 1.8 × 109 V s-1

16. The potential difference between the plates of a parallel plate capacitor of capacitance 5 μF
varies at the rate of 300 kVs-1. The displacement current between the plates is
(a) 1 A
(b) 0.6 A
(c) 1.66 A
(d) 1.5 A

17. The force exerted by sunlight of intensity 1350 Wm-2 reflected from the reflecting surface of an
aluminium sheet of area 104 m2 is
(a) 0.72N
(b) 0.09 N
(c) 45 N
(d) 0.18 N

18. The electromagnetic energy contained in cubic metre near the earth's surface is (given intensity
of sunlight under clear sky is 103 W m-2)
(a)3.3 × 10–6 J
(b) 3.3 J
(c) 3 × 10–3 J
(d) 3.0 × 10–6 J

19. The maximum radiation pressure exerted by sunlight outside the earth's atmosphere on a black
flat surface (solar constant = 1350 Wm -2) is:
(a) 2.25 × 10–5 Pa
(b) 0.06 Pa
(c) 0.09 Pa
(d) 4.5 × 10–6 Pa

20. The magnetic field of a plane polarized electromagnetic wave moving along 7-direction is given
  z t 107  
by B = 1.2 10 sin  2 
−6
−   tesla. The maximum electric field is
  240 8 
(a) 1000 V m-1
(b) 180 V m-1
(c) 360 V m-1
(d) 0.40 V m-1

21. A solar cell has a light gathering area of 10 cm2 and produces a current 0.2 A at 0.8 V (DC) when
illuminated with sunlight of intensity 1000 Wm–2. The efficiency of the solar cell is
(a) 8%
(b) 16%
(c) 23%
(d) 32%
22. The amplitude of the electric field in an electromagnetic wave is 10 V m-1. The frequency of the
wave is 5 × 1014 Hz. The wave is propagating along the z-axis. The average energy density of the
electric field is
(a) 2.21 × 10-10 J m-3
(b) 4.21 × 10-10 J m-3
(c) 3.21 × 10-10 J m-3
(d) 1.21 × 10-10 J m-3

23. An observer is 1.8 m from an isotropic point source of tight of power 250 W. The rms value of the
electric field at the position of the observer is nearly:
(a) 5 Vm-1
(b) 50 Vm-1
(c) 500 Vm-1
(d) 0.5 Vm-1

24. Sunlight falling vertically on surface at the sea level has an intensity of 1600 Wm-2. Assuming only
50% of the incident light is absorbed, the radiation pressure on the surface is
(a) 8 × 10-4 Pa
(b) 8 × 10-5 Pa
(c) 8 × 10-6 Pa
(d) 8 × 10-7 Pa

25. A plane electromagnetic wave of wave intensity 10 Wm-2 strikes a small mirror of area 20 cm2
held perpendicular to the approaching wave. The radiation force on the mirror will be
(a) 1.33 × 10-10 N
(b) 6.6 × 10-10 N
(c) 1.33 × 10-11 N
(d) 6.6 × 10-11 M

26. The amplitude of the electric field in a parallel beam of fight of intensity 8 W m–2 is
(a) 77.6 N C-1
(b) 38.8 N C-1
(c) 7.76 N C-1
(d) 3.88 N C-1

27. A point source of electromagnetic radiation has an average power output of 800 W. The
maximum value of electric field at a distance 4 m from the source is
(a) 57.8 V m-1
(b) 56.72 V m-1
(c) 64.7 V m-1
(d) 54.77 V m-1

28. A beam of light of intensity 20 W cm-2 falls on a non-reflecting surface at normal incidence. If the
area of surface is 15 cm2, the average force exerted on the surface during 30 minute time span is
(a) 1 × 10-6 N
(b) 2 × 10-6 N
(c) 3 × 10-6 N
(d) 4 × 10-6 N

29. In an electromagnetic wave,

(a) E and B are parallel to each other
(b) E is parallel to the direction of propagation
(c) Speed is independent of the nature of medium
(d) Speed decreases with increase in dielectric constant of the medium

30. If the speed of gamma rays, X-rays and microwaves in free space are vg , vx , and vm respectively,
then the correct relation is :
(a) vg  vx  vm
(b) vg = vx = vm
(c) vg  vx  vm
(d) vg  vx  vm
 ANSWER KEYS

1. (d) 2. (c) 3. (a) 4. (c) 5. (b) 6. (b) 7. (c) 8. (d) 9. (c) 10. (c) 11. (b) 12. (c) 13. (b) 14. (d) 15. (d) 16. (d)
17. (b) 18. (a) 19. (d) 20. (c) 21. (b) 22. (a) 23. (b) 24. (c) 25. (a) 26. (a) 27. (d) 28. (a) 29. (d) 30. (b)
 SOLUTIONS

1. (d)

2. (c)

3. (a)
4. (c)

5. (b)

6. (b)
7. (c)

8. (d)

9. (c)

10. (c)
11. (b)

12. (c)

13. (b)

14. (d)

15. (d)

16. (d)

17. (b)
18. (a)

19. (d)

20. (c)

21. (b)

22. (a)

23. (b)
24. (c)

25. (a)

26. (a)

27. (d)

28. (a)
29. (d)

30. (b)
All electromagnetic waves propagate with the same speed in free space.