Practice question
Question
An electromagnetic wave in vacuum has a wavelength of \( 4 \, \text{m} \). What is its frequency?
(Given \( c = 3 \times 10^8 \, \text{m/s} \))
Explanation
**EM wave in vacuum** transverse, E and B perpendicular to propagation and to each other, E×B along propagation, in phase, E/B = c =3×10⁸ m/s, c =1/√(μ₀ ε₀), μ₀=4π×10⁻⁷ H/m, ε₀=8.85×10⁻¹² F/m. For E₀=45 V/m, B₀=E₀/c=45/3×10⁸=1.5×10⁻⁷ T=150 nT, illustrating B much smaller than E. Using v λ = c , we have v = (c/λ) = (3 × 10⁸/4) = 7.5 × 10⁷ Hz . Using c = fλ, E₀/B₀ = c, I_d = ε₀ dΦ_E/dt, and spectrum classification λ = c/f, evaluation yields 7.5 × 10⁷ Hz, illustrating EM wave transverse nature and Maxwell's displacement current concept.
Discussion
Comments
Please log in to join the discussion.
Login to commentNo comments yet. Be the first to start the discussion.