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The E and B fields in electromagnetic wa...

The E and B fields in electromagnetic waves are oriented:

A

parallel to the wave's direction of travel, as well as to each other.

B

parallel to the wave's direction of travel and perpendicular to each other.

C

perpendicular to the wave's direction of travel and parallel to each other.

D

perpendicular to the wave's direction of travel and also to each other.

Text Solution

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The correct Answer is:
To solve the question regarding the orientation of the electric (E) and magnetic (B) fields in electromagnetic waves, we can follow these steps: ### Step-by-Step Solution: 1. **Understanding Electromagnetic Waves**: Electromagnetic waves consist of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that propagate through space. 2. **Direction of Propagation**: The direction of propagation of an electromagnetic wave is determined by the cross product of the electric field vector (E) and the magnetic field vector (B). This can be expressed mathematically as: \[ \text{Direction of propagation} \propto \mathbf{E} \times \mathbf{B} \] 3. **Orientation of E and B Fields**: In an electromagnetic wave, the electric field (E) and the magnetic field (B) are oriented such that: - The electric field is perpendicular to the direction of propagation. - The magnetic field is also perpendicular to the direction of propagation. - The electric field and magnetic field are perpendicular to each other. 4. **Conclusion**: Therefore, the correct orientation of the electric and magnetic fields in an electromagnetic wave is that they are both perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation and also perpendicular to each other. 5. **Final Answer**: The correct option is: "Perpendicular to the wave's direction of travel and also to each other."

To solve the question regarding the orientation of the electric (E) and magnetic (B) fields in electromagnetic waves, we can follow these steps: ### Step-by-Step Solution: 1. **Understanding Electromagnetic Waves**: Electromagnetic waves consist of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that propagate through space. 2. **Direction of Propagation**: ...
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