JEE Main · Physics → Steady

Electromagnetic Waves appeared 31 times across 3 years — 3.6% of Physics. This question is from Energy Density of EM Waves.

Year 2026 2025 2024 Total
Questions 10 12 9 31

Due to presence of an em-wave whose electric component is given by E = 100 (ω t - kx)NC⁻¹ , a cylinder of length 200~cm holds certain amount of em-energy inside it. If another cylinder of same length but half diameter than previous one holds the same amount of em-energy, the magnitude of the electric field of the corresponding em-wave should be modified as

Solution & Explanation

Related Formula
Energy Density = (1)/(2) ε₀ E² Total Energy = Energy Density × Volume
Core Logic

Since both cylinders hold equal amounts of electromagnetic energy:

(Energy)₁ = (Energy)₂ (1)/(2) ε₀ E₁² · c π R₁² × L₁ = (1)/(2) ε₀ E₂² · c π R₂² × L₂

Since the lengths are identical (L₁ = L₂), this simplifies to:

E₁² R₁² = E₂² R₂² E₁ R₁ = E₂ R₂

Given the second cylinder has half the diameter (and radius) of the first (R₂ = R₁2):

100 × R₁ = E₂ × R₁2 E₂ = 200 N/C
Step 1: Final Equation Match

The wave equation adjusts its amplitude factor to 200 (ω t - kx)NC⁻¹, which matches option (2).

Pattern Recognition

When energy is constant and volume scales down inversely by a factor of 4 (due to R²), the electric field strength must increase by a factor of √(4) = 2 to maintain balance.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Electromagnetic Waves

Reference Study Guides

More Electromagnetic Waves Previous-Year Questions — Page 4

Q4 jee_main_2025_03_april_morning Radiation Pressure
The radiation pressure exerted by a 450~W light source on a perfectly reflecting surface placed at 2~m away from it, is :
  • A. 1.5 × 10⁻⁸~Pascals
  • B. 0
  • C. 6 × 10⁻⁸~Pascals
  • D. 3 × 10⁻⁸~Pascals

Solution

Related Formula

For a perfectly reflecting surface, the radiation pressure Prad is given by:

Prad = (2I)/(c)

where, I = intensity of the light source, c = speed of light ≈ 3 × 10⁸~m/s.

Core Logic

Let's first calculate the intensity I of the point source at a distance r = 2~m:

I = PowerArea = (P)/(4π r²)

Substitute the given values (P = 450~W and r = 2~m):

I = (450)/(4π × 2²) = (450)/(16π)~W/m²
Step 1: Calculating Radiation Pressure

Now, substitute I into the radiation pressure formula:

Prad = (2 × ((450)/(16π)))/(3 × 10⁸) = (900)/(16π × 3 × 10⁸) Prad = (300)/(16π × 10⁸) = (75)/(4π × 10⁸)~N/m²

Using π ≈ 3.1416:

Prad = (75)/(4 × 3.1416 × 10⁸) = (75)/(12.566) × 10⁻⁸ Prad ≈ 5.968 × 10⁻⁸~Pascals ≈ 6 × 10⁻⁸~Pascals
Pattern Recognition

Remember: Perfectly absorbing surface P = I/c. Perfectly reflecting surface P = 2I/c. Always pay close attention to the surface's properties mentioned in the prompt!

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Electromagnetic Waves

Q23 jee_main_2025_04_april_evening Velocity of EM Waves
If an optical medium possesses a relative permeability of (10)/(pi) and relative permittivity of (1)/(0.0885), then the velocity of light is greater in vacuum than that in this medium by ________ times. (μ₀ = 4π × 10⁻⁷ H / m, ε₀ = 8.85 × 10⁻¹² F / m, c = 3 × 10⁸ m / s)
Numerical Answer. Answer: 6 to 6

Solution

Related Formula
v = 1√(μ ε) = 1√(μ₀μᵣ · ε₀εᵣ) = c√(μᵣ εᵣ)
Core Logic

Given parameters:

μᵣ = (10)/(π) εᵣ = (1)/(0.0885)

Let's substitute these into the refractive index radical term √(μᵣ εᵣ):

μᵣ εᵣ = (10)/(π) × (1)/(0.0885)
Step 1: Simplify Numerical Ratio

Using standard approximations π ≈ 3.14:

μᵣ εᵣ = (10)/(3.1415 × 0.0885) ≈ (10)/(0.278) ≈ 36

Taking the square root:

√(μᵣ εᵣ) = √(36) = 6

Therefore, v = (c)/(6) c = 6v. Velocity in a vacuum is exactly 6 times faster.

Pattern Recognition

The expression √(μᵣ εᵣ) is identical to the definition of refractive index n. Simplifying indices down to a perfect square (36 6) clarifies the ratio immediately.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Electromagnetic Waves

Q3 jee_main_2025_07_april_evening Intensity of EM Waves
The unit of 2Iε₀c is: (I = intensity of an electromagnetic wave, c: speed of light) [cite: 10]
  • A. Vm [cite: 29]
  • B. NC [cite: 31]
  • C. Nm [cite: 30]
  • D. NC⁻¹ [cite: 31]

Solution

Related Formula

I = (1)/(2)ε₀ E₀² c [cite: 670]

Core Logic

Rearranging the equation for intensity I to express the peak electric field amplitude E₀: [cite: 670]

E₀² = (2I)/(ε₀ c)

E₀ = √((2I)/(ε₀ c)) [cite: 670]

Thus, the given quantity is simply the magnitude of the peak electric field E₀[cite: 672]. The standard SI unit of an electric field is Newtons per Coulomb (N· C⁻¹) or Volts per meter (V· m⁻¹)[cite: 673]. Matching with the given structural choices, NC⁻¹ is the correct unit[cite: 31, 669].

Pattern Recognition

Recognize the standard configuration for energy flux density (intensity) I = uavgc[cite: 670]. Identifying that √((2I)/(ε₀ c)) resolves to the electric field dimension directly yields the solution unit NC⁻¹ or V/m[cite: 670, 672, 673].

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Electromagnetic Waves

Q4 jee_main_2025_07_april_evening Impedance of Free Space
The dimension of μ₀ε₀ is equal to that of: (μ₀= Vacuum permeability and ε₀= Vacuum permittivity) [cite: 33, 34]
  • A. Voltage [cite: 35]
  • B. Capacitance [cite: 36]
  • C. Inductance [cite: 37]
  • D. Resistance [cite: 38]

Solution

Related Formula

L = (μ₀ N² A)/(l) μ₀ ∝ L [cite: 675]

C = (ε₀ A)/(d) ε₀ ∝ C [cite: 677]

Core Logic

From the basic formulas of inductance and capacitance, we can note the proportional parameters: [cite: 675, 677]

(μ₀)/(ε₀) ∝ (L)/(C) [cite: 678]

We know that the time constant for an LR circuit is τ = (L)/(R) and for a RC circuit is τ = RC[cite: 679]. Equating these time dimensions: [cite: 679]

(L)/(R) = RC (L)/(C) = R² [cite: 679]

Taking the square root or matching parameters from the text solution layout yields the characteristic dimension of resistance[cite: 679].

Pattern Recognition

The quantity √((μ₀)/(ε₀)) represents the intrinsic impedance of free space, which has the value ≈ 377 Ω[cite: 679]. Hence, its square matches the dimension of resistance squared, which maps to Resistance in the choice sets[cite: 38, 674].

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Electromagnetic Waves

Q2 jee_main_2025_24_jan_evening Electromagnetic Spectrum
Arrange the following in the ascending order of wavelength (λ) : (A) Microwaves (λ₁) (B) Ultraviolet rays (λ₂) (C) Infrared rays (λ₃) (D) X-rays (λ₄) Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below :
  • A. λ₄ < λ₃ < λ₂ < λ₁
  • B. λ₃ < λ₄ < λ₂ < λ₁
  • C. λ₄ < λ₂ < λ₃ < λ₁
  • D. λ₄ < λ₃ < λ₁ < λ₂

Solution

Core Logic

The order of components in the electromagnetic spectrum in increasing order of wavelength (λ) is:

γ-rays < X-rays < U.V. rays < Visible rays < IR rays < Microwaves < Radio waves

Given components:

  • Microwaves: λ₁
  • Ultraviolet rays: λ₂
  • Infrared rays: λ₃
  • X-rays: λ₄
  • Comparing these yields:

λ₄ < λ₂ < λ₃ < λ₁
Pattern Recognition

Remember the mnemonic for the EM spectrum in increasing wavelength: "Good Xylophones Use Very Interesting Micro Radios" (Gamma, X-ray, UV, Visible, IR, Microwave, Radio).

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Electromagnetic Waves

More Electromagnetic Waves Questions — jee_main_2025_28_jan_morning

Practice all Electromagnetic Waves previous-year questions →

Rankbit System
JEE Physics: Waves (+15.5%) | Electrostatics: Concentric Shells (-29.7%) | Modern Physics: Photoelectric Clones (+34.2%) | Mathematics: Definite Integrals (+18.1%) | Chemistry: Coordination Splitting (-11.4%) | JEE Physics: Waves (+15.5%) | Electrostatics: Concentric Shells (-29.7%) | Modern Physics: Photoelectric Clones (+34.2%) | Mathematics: Definite Integrals (+18.1%) | Chemistry: Coordination Splitting (-11.4%)