The electric and magnetic field of an electromagnetic wave are
- in opposite phase and perpendicular to each other
- in opposite phase and parallel to each other
- in phase and perpendicular to each other
- in phase and parallel to each other
Answer
(3) in phase and perpendicular to each other
Solution
As per NCERT, in a plane electromagnetic wave travelling along z:
Ex = E0 (kz - t), By = B0 (kz - t)
both fields reach their maxima and zeros together, i.e. they are in phase.
E is along x and B is along y, they are perpendicular to each other (and both are perpendicular to the direction of propagation).
The fields are in phase and perpendicular to each other.
Answer: (3)