Field Amplitude Relation
The electric field amplitude of a plane electromagnetic wave travelling in vacuum is measured to be 90 V/m. What is the amplitude of the associated magnetic field component?
Select the correct option:
Solution
3.0×10−7 T
For an electromagnetic wave in vacuum the peak electric and magnetic field magnitudes are not independent; they are locked together by the wave speed through E_0 = cB_0. This relation comes straight from Maxwell's equations and ensures that the electric and magnetic energy densities stay equal. Rearranging gives B_0 = E_0/c = 90/(3.0 \times 10^{8}) = 3.0 \times 10^{-7}\ \text{T}. The 3.0 \times 10^{-6}\ \text{T} value is ten times too large, a common decimal slip. The huge 2.7 \times 10^{10}\ \text{T} option comes from mistakenly multiplying by c instead of dividing. The 30 T answer would treat the relation as E_0/3 with the wrong power of ten, which is physically absurd for radiation. The numerical smallness of B_0 reflects the factor of c separating the two fields, exactly as described in the NCERT Electromagnetic Waves chapter. As a sanity check, magnetic field amplitudes in ordinary light are always extremely small, on the order of 10^{-7}\ \text{T} or less, so the chosen answer is physically reasonable.
🔒 Solution Hidden from View
Submit your answer to unlock the detailed step-by-step solution.
More field amplitude relation Practice Questions
About This Question
- Subject
- physics
- Chapter
- electromagnetic waves
- Topic
- field amplitude relation
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Year
- 2025
Solution
Correct Answer:
3.0×10−7 T
For an electromagnetic wave in vacuum the peak electric and magnetic field magnitudes are not independent; they are locked together by the wave speed through E_0 = cB_0. This relation comes straight from Maxwell's equations and ensures that the electric and magnetic energy densities stay equal. Rearranging gives B_0 = E_0/c = 90/(3.0 \times 10^{8}) = 3.0 \times 10^{-7}\ \text{T}. The 3.0 \times 10^{-6}\ \text{T} value is ten times too large, a common decimal slip. The huge 2.7 \times 10^{10}\ \text{T} option comes from mistakenly multiplying by c instead of dividing. The 30 T answer would treat the relation as E_0/3 with the wrong power of ten, which is physically absurd for radiation. The numerical smallness of B_0 reflects the factor of c separating the two fields, exactly as described in the NCERT Electromagnetic Waves chapter. As a sanity check, magnetic field amplitudes in ordinary light are always extremely small, on the order of 10^{-7}\ \text{T} or less, so the chosen answer is physically reasonable.
This easy difficulty physics question is from the chapter electromagnetic waves, covering the topic of field amplitude relation. It appeared in the 2025 exam.
Looking for more practice? Explore all physics questions or browse electromagnetic waves questions on RankGuru.