Related Formula
For a plane electromagnetic wave propagating in a given direction:
- Peak electric field amplitude relates to peak magnetic field amplitude via:
E₀ = B₀ · c$$E_0 = B_0 \cdot c$$
- The directional orientation unit vectors satisfy the cross product relation:
E = B × c$$\hat{E} = \hat{B} \times \hat{c}$$
where c$\hat{c}$ points along the wave propagation vector direction.
Core Logic
Given the wave equation format, the phase term (t - (z)/(c))$\left(t - \frac{z}{c}\right)$ shows that propagation is along the positive z-axis :
c = k$$\hat{c} = \hat{k}$$
The magnetic field direction unit vector is :
B = √(3)2 i + (1)/(2) j$$\hat{B} = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\hat{i} + \frac{1}{2}\hat{j}$$
Compute the electric field direction vector using the cross product relation :
E = B × k = ( √(3)2 i + (1)/(2) j) × k$$\hat{E} = \hat{B} \times \hat{k} = \left(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\hat{i} + \frac{1}{2}\hat{j}\right) \times \hat{k}$$
E = √(3)2( i × k) + (1)/(2)( j × k)$$\hat{E} = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}(\hat{i} \times \hat{k}) + \frac{1}{2}(\hat{j} \times \hat{k})$$
Using unit vector properties (i × k = - j$\hat{i} \times \hat{k} = -\hat{j}$ and j × k = i$\hat{j} \times \hat{k} = \hat{i}$):
E = - √(3)2 j + (1)/(2) i = (1)/(2) i - √(3)2 j$$\hat{E} = -\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\hat{j} + \frac{1}{2}\hat{i} = \frac{1}{2}\hat{i} - \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\hat{j} \quad \text{}$$
With peak amplitude E₀ = 30c$E_0 = 30c$ , the resulting vector equation is:
E = ((1)/(2) i - √(3)2 j)30c [ω(t-(z)/(c))]$$\vec{E} = \left(\frac{1}{2}\hat{i} - \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\hat{j}\right)30c\sin\left[\omega\left(t-\frac{z}{c}\right)\right]$$
Pattern Recognition
The vectors E$\vec{E}$, B$\vec{B}$, and the propagation direction are always mutually perpendicular. Since E · B = 0$\vec{E} \cdot \vec{B} = 0$, you can quickly double-check your answer by verifying that the \dot product of the final E$\vec{E}$ and B$\vec{B}$ direction options equals zero.
Chapter Mix
Class 12 Physics: Electromagnetic Waves