Question

In an electromagnetic wave
A) Power is equally transferred along with the electric and magnetic fields
B) Power is transmitted in a direction perpendicular to both the fields
C) Power is transmitted along the electric field
D) Power is transmitted along a magnetic field

Answer 1

Hint: Electromagnetic waves are transverse in nature. The electromagnetic waves follow the principle of superposition. An electromagnetic wave consists of sinusoidal time-varying electric and magnetic fields, and both the fields are perpendicular to each other.

Complete solution:
Electromagnetic waves are produced when an electric field comes in contact with the magnetic field. It is the composition of both the oscillating electric field and magnetic field.
Electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy. Electromagnetic waves are also called EM waves. These waves are the results of Maxwell’s equation. Maxwell’s equations of electricity and magnetism combined to give the light are in an electromagnetic wave. The energy carried by the electric and magnetic fields of electromagnetic waves are equal.
Electromagnetic waves $\overrightarrow E $and $\overrightarrow B $ are always perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the direction of propagation. Power is transmitted in an electromagnetic wave in the direction of propagation of the wave which is given the cross product of both magnetic field and electric field. Hence the power transmitted is in a direction perpendicular to both fields.

Option $(B)$ Power is transmitted in a direction perpendicular to both the fields.

Note: The oscillating electric and magnetic fields are in the same phase and their magnitudes have a constant ratio. Electromagnetic wave propagation does not require any material to travel. Electromagnetic waves have the properties of speed, wavelength, and frequency. Electromagnetic radiation travels in a straight line at the speed of about $3 \times {10^8}$ ${\text{meter per second}}$.
Types of electromagnetic waves: The electromagnetic spectrum includes from longest to shortest wavelength. They are radio waves, microwaves, optical, ultraviolet, infrared, X-rays, and gamma rays.