Nature of Electromagnetic Waves
Nature of Electromagnetic Waves: Overview
This Topic covers sub-topics such as Wave Vector, Intensity of Electromagnetic Wave, Energy Density of Electromagnetic Wave, Relation between Electric Field, Magnetic Field and Speed of Light and, Ether Medium and Ether Hypothesis
Important Questions on Nature of Electromagnetic Waves
The diagram below shows the electric field (E) and magnetic field (B) components of an electromagnetic wave at a certain time and location.
What is the direction of propagation of the em wave?

Electric field of two light waves have amplitude and . The ratio of maximum to minimum intensity when the waves interfere, is

Electromagnetic waves travelling in a medium having relative permeability and relative permittivity . The speed of electromagnetic waves in the medium must be

Why are electromagnetic waves uncharged?

Why is light considered an electromagnetic waves?

What remains same for all electromagnetic waves?

An EM wave exerts pressure on the surface on which it is incident. Justify.

What is Luminiferous aether?

Why was the ether medium known as a hypothetical medium?

How was ether disproved?

According to ether hypothesis, which waves were not possible in gases or liquids?

Electric field amplitude of electromagnetic wave is and frequency , if the wave is propagating along then equation of wave for electric field is

Wavelength of electromagnetic wave Tesla.

Magnitude of wave vector is reciprocal to wavelength and direction perpendicular to wavelength.

Electromagnetic waves propagating along , the equation for electric field along is expressed as , the wave vector is

The average force exerted on the surface is directly proportional to the total momentum delivered to that surface for complete absorption.

The light with an energy flux of falls on a non-reflecting surface at normal incidence. If the surface has an area of . Find the average force exerted on the surface during time span.

The light with an energy flux of falls on a non-reflecting surface at normal incidence. If the surface has an area of . Find the total momentum delivered on the surface during time span.

The momentum of an electromagnetic wave is defined as the _____ carried by an electromagnetic wave divided by the speed of light.

When the sun shines on your hand, you feel the energy being absorbed from the electromagnetic wave.
