Electromagnetic Waves (Physics) : Answer
Electromagnetic Waves (Physics) : Answer
Question 8.1:
Figure 8.6 shows a capacitor made of two circular plates each of radius 12 cm, and separated by 5.0 cm.
The capacitor is being charged by an external source (not shown in the figure). The charging current is
constant and equal to 0.15 A.
(a) Calculate the capacitance and the rate of charge of potential difference between the plates.
(b) Obtain the displacement current across the plates.
(c) Is Kirchhoff’s first rule (junction rule) valid at each plate of the capacitor? Explain.
Answer
Discussion
Radius of each circular plate, r = 12 cm = 0.12 m
Distance between the plates, d = 5 cm = 0.05 m
Charging current, I = 0.15 A
Permittivity of free space, = 8.85 × 10−12 C2 N−1 m−2
(a) Capacitance between the two plates is given by the relation,
C
Where,
A = Area of each plate
Answer
Discussion
Radius of each circular plate, R = 6.0 cm = 0.06 m
Capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor, C = 100 pF = 100 × 10−12 F
Supply voltage, V = 230 V
Angular frequency, ω = 300 rad s−1
∴ I = V × ωC
= 230 × 300 × 100 × 10−12
= 6.9 × 10−6 A
= 6.9 μA
Hence, the rms value of conduction current is 6.9 μA.
(b) Yes, conduction current is equal to displacement current.
(c) Magnetic field is given as:
B
Where,
μ0 = Free space permeability
I0 = Maximum value of current =
r = Distance between the plates from the axis = 3.0 cm = 0.03 m
∴B
= 1.63 × 10−11 T
Hence, the magnetic field at that point is 1.63 × 10 −11 T.
Question 8.3:
What physical quantity is the same for X-rays of wavelength 10 −10 m, red light of wavelength 6800 Å and
radiowaves of wavelength 500 m?
Answer
Discussion
The speed of light (3 × 108 m/s) in a vacuum is the same for all wavelengths. It is independent of the
wavelength in the vacuum.
Question 8.4:
A plane electromagnetic wave travels in vacuum along z-direction. What can you say about the
directions of its electric and magnetic field vectors? If the frequency of the wave is 30 MHz, what is its
wavelength?
Answer
Discussion
The electromagnetic wave travels in a vacuum along the z-direction. The electric field (E) and the
magnetic field (H) are in the x-y plane. They are mutually perpendicular.
Frequency of the wave, ν = 30 MHz = 30 × 10 6 s−1
Speed of light in a vacuum, c = 3 × 108 m/s
Wavelength of a wave is given as:
Question 8.5:
A radio can tune in to any station in the 7.5 MHz to 12 MHz band. What is the corresponding wavelength
band?
Answer
Discussion
A radio can tune to minimum frequency, ν1 = 7.5 MHz= 7.5 × 106 Hz
Maximum frequency, ν2 = 12 MHz = 12 × 106 Hz
Speed of light, c = 3 × 108 m/s
Corresponding wavelength for ν1 can be calculated as:
Discussion
The frequency of an electromagnetic wave produced by the oscillator is the same as that of a charged
particle oscillating about its mean position i.e., 10 9 Hz.
Question 8.7:
The amplitude of the magnetic field part of a harmonic electromagnetic wave in vacuum is B0 = 510 nT.
What is the amplitude of the electric field part of the wave?
Answer
Discussion
Amplitude of magnetic field of an electromagnetic wave in a vacuum,
B0 = 510 nT = 510 × 10−9 T
Speed of light in a vacuum, c = 3 × 108 m/s
Amplitude of electric field of the electromagnetic wave is given by the relation,
E = cB0
= 3 × 108 × 510 × 10−9 = 153 N/C
Therefore, the electric field part of the wave is 153 N/C.
Question 8.8:
Suppose that the electric field amplitude of an electromagnetic wave is E0 = 120 N/C and that its
frequency is ν = 50.0 MHz. (a) Determine, B0, ω, k, and λ. (b) Find expressions for E and B.
Answer
Discussion
Electric field amplitude, E0 = 120 N/C
Frequency of source, ν = 50.0 MHz = 50 × 106 Hz
Speed of light, c = 3 × 108 m/s
(a) Magnitude of magnetic field strength is given as:
(b) Suppose the wave is propagating in the positive x direction. Then, the electric field vector will be in
the positive y direction and the magnetic field vector will be in the positive z direction. This is because all
three vectors are mutually perpendicular.
Equation of electric field vector is given as:
Question 8.9:
The terminology of different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum is given in the text. Use the formula
E = hν (for energy of a quantum of radiation: photon) and obtain the photon energy in units of eV for
different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. In what way are the different scales of photon energies
that you obtain related to the sources of electromagnetic radiation?
Answer
Discussion
Energy of a photon is given as:
Where,
h = Planck’s constant = 6.6 × 10−34 Js
c = Speed of light = 3 × 108 m/s
λ = Wavelength of radiation
The given table lists the photon energies for different parts of an electromagnetic spectrum for
differentλ.
λ (m) 103 1 10−3 10−6 10−8 10−10 10−12
E 12.375 × 12.375 × 12.375 × 12.375 × 12.375 × 12.375 × 12.375 ×
(eV) 10−10 10−7 10−4 10−1 101 103 105
The photon energies for the different parts of the spectrum of a source indicate the spacing of the
relevant energy levels of the source.
Question 8.10:
In a plane electromagnetic wave, the electric field oscillates sinusoidally at a frequency of 2.0 × 10 10 Hz
and amplitude 48 V m−1.
(a) What is the wavelength of the wave?
(b) What is the amplitude of the oscillating magnetic field?
(c) Show that the average energy density of the E field equals the average energy density of the B field.
[c = 3 × 108 m s−1.]
Answer
Discussion
Frequency of the electromagnetic wave, ν = 2.0 × 1010 Hz
Electric field amplitude, E0 = 48 V m−1
Speed of light, c = 3 × 108 m/s
(a) Wavelength of a wave is given as:
Where,
∈0 = Permittivity of free space
μ0 = Permeability of free space
We have the relation connecting E and B as:
E = cB … (1)
Where,
… (2)
Putting equation (2) in equation (1), we get
Squaring both sides, we get
Question 8.11:
Suppose that the electric field part of an electromagnetic wave in vacuum is E = {(3.1 N/C) cos [(1.8
rad/m) y + (5.4 × 106 rad/s)t]} .
(a) What is the direction of propagation?
(b) What is the wavelength λ?
(c) What is the frequency ν?
(d) What is the amplitude of the magnetic field part of the wave?
(e) Write an expression for the magnetic field part of the wave.
Answer
Discussion
(a) From the given electric field vector, it can be inferred that the electric field is directed along the
negative x direction. Hence, the direction of motion is along the negative y direction i.e., .
(b) It is given that,
The general equation for the electric field vector in the positive x direction can be written as:
Wavelength, = 3.490 m
(c) Frequency of wave is given as:
(e) On observing the given vector field, it can be observed that the magnetic field vector is directed
along the negative z direction. Hence, the general equation for the magnetic field vector is written as:
Question 8.12:
About 5% of the power of a 100 W light bulb is converted to visible radiation. What is the average
intensity of visible radiation
(a) at a distance of 1 m from the bulb?
(b) at a distance of 10 m?
Assume that the radiation is emitted isotropically and neglect reflection.
Answer
Discussion
Power rating of bulb, P = 100 W
It is given that about 5% of its power is converted into visible radiation.
Power of visible radiation,
Question 8.13:
Use the formula λm T= 0.29 cm K to obtain the characteristic temperature ranges for different parts of
the electromagnetic spectrum. What do the numbers that you obtain tell you?
Answer
Discussion
A body at a particular temperature produces a continous spectrum of wavelengths. In case of a black
body, the wavelength corresponding to maximum intensity of radiation is given according to Planck’s
law. It can be given by the relation,
Where,
λm = maximum wavelength
T = temperature
Thus, the temperature for different wavelengths can be obtained as:
Discussion
(a) Radio waves; it belongs to the short wavelength end of the electromagnetic spectrum.
(b) Radio waves; it belongs to the short wavelength end.
(c) Temperature, T = 2.7 °K
λm is given by Planck’s law as:
Discussion
(a) Long distance radio broadcasts use shortwave bands because only these bands can be refracted by
the ionosphere.
(b) It is necessary to use satellites for long distance TV transmissions because television signals are of
high frequencies and high energies. Thus, these signals are not reflected by the ionosphere. Hence,
satellites are helpful in reflecting TV signals. Also, they help in long distance TV transmissions.
(c) With reference to X-ray astronomy, X-rays are absorbed by the atmosphere. However, visible and
radio waves can penetrate it. Hence, optical and radio telescopes are built on the ground, while X-ray
astronomy is possible only with the help of satellites orbiting the Earth.
(d) The small ozone layer on the top of the atmosphere is crucial for human survival because it absorbs
harmful ultraviolet radiations present in sunlight and prevents it from reaching the Earth’s surface.
(e) In theabsenceof an atmosphere, there would be no greenhouse effect on the surface of the Earth. As
a result, the temperature of the Earth would decrease rapidly, making it chilly and difficult for human
survival.
(f) A global nuclear war on the surface of the Earth would have disastrous consequences. Post-nuclear
war, the Earth will experience severe winter as the war will produce clouds of smoke that would cover
maximum parts of the sky, thereby preventing solar light form reaching the atmosphere. Also, it will lead
to the depletion of the ozone layer.