Practice question
Question
An electromagnetic wave in vacuum has a wavelength of \( 20 \, \text{m} \). What is its frequency?
(Given \( c = 3 \times 10^8 \, \text{m/s} \))
Explanation
**Energy in EM wave** equally divided between electric and magnetic fields, energy density u = ½ ε₀ E² + B²/(2μ₀) = ε₀ E² = B²/μ₀, average u_avg = ½ ε₀ E₀², intensity I = c u_avg = ½ c ε₀ E₀² = E₀ B₀/(2μ₀) = c B₀²/(2μ₀), radiation pressure p = I/c for absorption, 2I/c for reflection. Using v λ = c , we have v = (c/λ) = (3 × 10⁸/20) = 1.5 × 10⁷ Hz . Using c = fλ, E₀/B₀ = c, I_d = ε₀ dΦ_E/dt, and spectrum classification λ = c/f, evaluation yields 1.5 × 10⁷ Hz, illustrating EM wave transverse
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