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Electromagnetic Waves appeared 31 times across 3 years — 3.6% of Physics. This question is from Dielectric Constant of Medium.

Year 2026 2025 2024 Total
Questions 10 12 9 31

The electric field of a plane electromagnetic wave, travelling in an unknown non-magnetic medium is given by, Ey=20 (3× 10⁶x-4.5× 10¹⁴t) V/m (where x, t and other values have S.I. units). The dielectric constant of the medium is \_\_\_\_. (speed of light in free space is 3 × 10⁸ ~m/s)

Numerical Answer Type:
Enter a numerical value Answer: 4 to 4 +4 marks

Solution & Explanation

Related Formula
v = (ω)/(k), n = (c)/(v) = √(μᵣ εᵣ)
Core Logic

Wave velocity in medium:

v = (ω)/(k) = 4.5 × 10¹⁴3 × 10⁶ = 1.5 × 10⁸ m/s

Refractive index:

n = (3 × 10⁸)/(1.5 × 10⁸) = 2

For non-magnetic medium (μᵣ = 1):

n = √(εᵣ) 2 = √(εᵣ) εᵣ = 4
Pattern Recognition

Sees: EM wave equation in dielectric medium. Shortcut: Extract phase velocity from wave equation coefficients, find refractive index and dielectric constant. Check: Numerical answer is 4. ✓

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Electromagnetic Waves

Reference Study Guides

More Electromagnetic Waves Previous-Year Questions — Page 7

Q40 jee_main_2024_31_jan_morning Energy Density Of EM Waves
In a plane EM wave, the electric field oscillates sinusoidally at a frequency of 5 × 10¹⁰ ~Hz and an amplitude of 50 ~Vm⁻¹. The total average energy density of the electromagnetic field of the wave is : [Use ε₀ = 8.85 × 10⁻¹² C² / Nm² ]
  • A. 1.106 × 10⁻⁸ Jm⁻³
  • B. 4.425 × 10⁻⁸ ~Jm⁻³
  • C. 2.212 × 10⁻⁸ ~Jm⁻³
  • D. 2.212 × 10⁻¹⁰ ~Jm⁻³

Solution

Related Formula
Utotal average = (1)/(2)ε₀ E₀²
Core Logic

For an electromagnetic wave, the total average energy density is the sum of the average energy density of the electric field and the magnetic field. They are equal, so:

Uavg = UE + UB = 2UE = 2 ( (1)/(4)ε₀ E₀² ) = (1)/(2)ε₀ E₀²

Where E₀ is the amplitude of the electric field.

Step 2: Substitution

Given: E₀ = 50 V/m ε₀ = 8.85 × 10⁻¹² C²/(N· m²)

Uavg = (1)/(2) × (8.85 × 10⁻¹²) × (50)² Uavg = (1)/(2) × 8.85 × 10⁻¹² × 2500 Uavg = 1.10625 × 10⁻⁸ J/m³
Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Electromagnetic Waves

More Electromagnetic Waves Questions — jee_main_2026_22_january_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%)