NEETPhysicsElectromagnetic Waves
Assertion (A): For an electromagnetic wave propagating in vacuum along the negative z-axis, if the electric field is along the positive x-axis, then the magnetic field must be along the positive y-axis. Reason (R): The direction of propagation of an electromagnetic wave is given by the vector E B , and the electric and magnetic fields are mutually perpendicular. In the light of the above statements, choose the most a
Options
- ABoth Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A)
- BBoth Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A)
- CAssertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false
- DAssertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true
Correct answer
D. Assertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true
Step-by-step solution
The direction of propagation of an electromagnetic wave is given by the cross product of the electric and magnetic field vectors, i.e., v E B . Given that the wave propagates along the negative z-axis, the direction of propagation is - k . The electric field is along the positive x-axis, so E is along + i . We need to find the direction of B such that i B = - k . Since i j = k , it follows that i (- j ) = - k . Therefore, the magnetic field must be along the negative y-axis ( - j ). The Assertion states that the ma