JEE Main · Physics → Steady

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

Year 2026 2025 2024 Total
Questions 10 12 9 31

The electric field of an electromagnetic wave travelling through a medium is given by E(x,t) = 25 (2.0× 10¹⁵t - 10⁷x) n then the refractive index of the medium is ____. (All given measurement are in SI units)

Solution & Explanation

Related Formula
v = (ω)/(k) μ = (c)/(v)
Core Logic

Compare the given equation with the standard wave equation E = E₀ (ω t - kx) to extract angular frequency (ω) and wave number (k). Find wave velocity v and then refractive index.

Step 1: Extracting Constants

From the given equation E(x,t) = 25 (2.0× 10¹⁵t - 10⁷x) n:

ω = 2 × 10¹⁵ ~rad / s k = 10⁷ ~m⁻¹
Step 2: Calculating Wave Velocity
v = (ω)/(k) = 2 × 10¹⁵10⁷ = 2 × 10⁸ ~m/s
Step 3: Calculating Refractive Index
v = (c)/(μ) ⇒ 2 × 10⁸ = (3 × 10⁸)/(μ) μ = (3 × 10⁸)/(2 × 10⁸) = 1.5
Pattern Recognition

For standard wave format ω t ± kx, the ratio ω/k immediately yields the phase velocity in the medium.

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_28_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%)