Sign in
Please select an account to continue using cracku.in
↓ →
Join Our JEE Preparation Group
Prep with like-minded aspirants; Get access to free daily tests and study material.
Magnetic field in a plane electromagnetic wave is given by, $$\vec{B} = B_0 \sin(kx + \omega t)\hat{j}$$ T. Expression for corresponding electric field will be: (Where $$c$$ is speed of light)
We have been told that the magnetic field associated with a plane electromagnetic wave is
$$\vec B = B_0 \sin(kx + \omega t)\,\hat j \;.$$
For any plane electromagnetic (e.m.) wave moving in free space the following facts are always true:
1. The electric field $$\vec E$$, the magnetic field $$\vec B$$ and the direction of wave propagation $$\hat n$$ are all mutually perpendicular, and they satisfy $$\hat n = \hat E \times \hat B\;.$$
2. The amplitudes are related by the universal relation
$$E_0 = c\,B_0\;,$$
where $$c$$ is the speed of light in vacuum.
3. The space-time variation (the “argument of the sine or cosine”) is exactly the same for $$\vec E$$ and $$\vec B$$, so they are in phase.
Let us now identify the propagation direction first. The magnetic field is along $$+\hat j$$ and the argument of the sine is $$kx + \omega t$$. For a harmonic term $$\sin(kx - \omega t)$$ the wave would move towards $$+\hat x$$, while $$\sin(kx + \omega t)$$ represents a wave travelling towards $$-\hat x$$. Hence the present wave moves along the negative $$x$$-axis, so
$$\hat n = -\hat i\;.$$
Next we determine the direction of $$\vec E$$. We need a unit vector $$\hat E$$ such that
$$\hat E \times \hat B = \hat E \times \hat j = -\hat i\;.$$
Recalling the right-hand rule for cross products,
$$\hat k \times \hat j = -\hat i\;,$$
so $$\hat E$$ must be $$\hat k$$. Therefore the electric field is directed along the $$z$$-axis.
We already know the amplitude relation $$E_0 = cB_0$$, and because the two fields are in phase, the sine factor remains unchanged. Putting all this information together we write
$$\vec E = E_0 \sin(kx + \omega t)\,\hat k = (cB_0)\sin(kx + \omega t)\,\hat k\;.$$
Simplifying the notation, the required expression is
$$\vec E = B_0\,c \,\sin(kx + \omega t)\,\hat k \;{\rm V\,m^{-1}}.$$
Among the given options, this matches Option C exactly.
Hence, the correct answer is Option C.
Create a FREE account and get:
Predict your JEE Main percentile, rank & performance in seconds
Educational materials for JEE preparation
Ask our AI anything
AI can make mistakes. Please verify important information.
AI can make mistakes. Please verify important information.