JEE Physics Electromagnetic Waves MCQs Set 11

Physics Objective Questions and Answers: Electromagnetic Waves

Explore reliable objective questions for Electromagnetic Waves tailored for JEE learners. Utilizing these Physics multiple-choice formats ensures thorough preparation and strengthens problem-solving speed for upcoming school assessments.

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Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1: If a source is transmitting an electromagnetic wave of frequency 8.2 × 10⁶ Hz, then the wavelength of the electromagnetic waves transmitted from the source will be
(a) 36.6 m
(b) 40.5 m
(c) 42.3 m
(d) 50.9 m
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (a) 36.6 m

Explanation:
1. λ = c/f = 3 × 10⁸/(8.2 × 10⁶) = 36.6 m.

Teacher's Note:
1. Recall the basic fact.

Question 2: The ratio of the electric field vector E to the magnetic field vector H, i.e. E/H, has the dimensions of
(a) resistance
(b) inductance
(c) capacitance
(d) product of inductance and capacitance
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (a) resistance

Explanation:
1. E/H has the unit V/A, which is ohm, so E/H has the dimensions of resistance (the impedance of free space, 377 ohm).

Teacher's Note:
1. Recall the basic fact.

Question 3: Microwaves are electromagnetic waves with frequency in the range of
(a) microhertz
(b) gigahertz
(c) megahertz
(d) hertz
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (b) gigahertz

Explanation:
1. Microwave frequencies are of the order of 10⁹ to 10¹¹ Hz.

Teacher's Note:
1. Recall the basic fact.

Question 4: An e.m. wave of intensity I falls on a surface kept in vacuum and exerts radiation pressure P on it. Which statements are true? I. Radiation pressure is I/c if the wave is totally absorbed. II. Radiation pressure is I/c if the wave is totally reflected. III. Radiation pressure is 2I/c if the wave is totally reflected.
(a) I and II
(b) I and III
(c) III only
(d) I, II and III
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (b) I and III

Explanation:
1. Total absorption gives P = I/c.
2. Total reflection reverses the momentum, giving P = 2I/c.

Teacher's Note:
1. Recall the basic fact.

Question 5: According to Maxwell's hypothesis, a changing electric field gives rise to
(a) an emf
(b) electric displacement current
(c) a magnetic field
(d) a pressure gradient
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (c) a magnetic field

Explanation:
1. A changing electric field produces a magnetic field.

Teacher's Note:
1. Recall the basic fact.

Question 6: In order to establish an instantaneous displacement current of 1 mA in the space between the plates of a 2 microfarad parallel plate capacitor, the potential difference needs to change at the rate of
(a) 100 V/s
(b) 200 V/s
(c) 300 V/s
(d) 500 V/s
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (d) 500 V/s

Explanation:
1. I_d = C dV/dt, so dV/dt = 10⁻³/(2 × 10⁻⁶) = 500 V/s.

Teacher's Note:
1. Recall the basic fact.

Question 7: The waves which are electromagnetic in nature are
(a) sound waves and light waves
(b) water waves and radio waves
(c) light waves and X-rays
(d) sound waves and water waves
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (c) light waves and X-rays

Explanation:
1. Light and X-rays are e.m. waves.

Teacher's Note:
1. Recall the basic fact.

Question 8: When an electromagnetic wave enters the ionised layer of the ionosphere, the motion of electrons produces a space current and the electric field has its own capacitive displacement current. Then
(a) the space current is in phase with the displacement current
(b) the space current lags behind the displacement current by a phase of 180°
(c) the space current lags behind the displacement current by a phase of 90°
(d) the space current leads the displacement current by a phase of 90°
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (b) the space current lags behind the displacement current by a phase of 180°

Explanation:
1. The displacement current leads E by 90° while the electron current lags E by 90°.
2. So the space current lags the displacement current by 180°.

Teacher's Note:
1. Recall the basic fact.

Question 9: In the electromagnetic spectrum, the frequencies of gamma rays, X-rays and ultraviolet rays are n1, n2 and n3 respectively. Then
(a) n1 > n2 > n3
(b) n1 < n2 < n3
(c) n1 > n2 < n3
(d) n1 < n2 > n3
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (a) n1 > n2 > n3

Explanation:
1. The frequency decreases from gamma to X-rays to ultraviolet.

Teacher's Note:
1. Recall the basic fact.

Question 10: The electromagnetic waves
(a) travel with the speed of sound
(b) travel with the same speed in all media
(c) travel in free space with the speed of light
(d) do not travel through a medium
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (c) travel in free space with the speed of light

Explanation:
1. In vacuum all e.m. waves travel at c = 3 × 10⁸ m/s.

Teacher's Note:
1. Recall the basic fact.

Question 11: A plane electromagnetic wave is incident on a material surface. If the wave delivers momentum p and energy E, then
(a) p = 0, E = 0
(b) p not 0, E not 0
(c) p not 0, E = 0
(d) p = 0, E not 0
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (b) p not 0, E not 0

Explanation:
1. E.m. waves carry both energy and momentum, and deliver both to the surface.

Teacher's Note:
1. Recall the basic fact.

Question 12: The electromagnetic waves do not transport
(a) energy
(b) charge
(c) momentum
(d) information
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (b) charge

Explanation:
1. E.m. waves carry energy, momentum and information but no charge.

Teacher's Note:
1. Recall the basic fact.

Question 13: Displacement current goes through the gap between the plates of a capacitor when the charge on the capacitor
(a) is changing with time
(b) decreases
(c) does not change
(d) decreases to zero
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (a) is changing with time

Explanation:
1. Displacement current is ε₀ dφ_E/dt, which exists when the electric field (charge) changes with time.

Teacher's Note:
1. Recall the basic fact.

Question 14: The decreasing order of wavelength of infrared, microwave, ultraviolet and gamma rays is
(a) microwave, infrared, ultraviolet, gamma rays
(b) infrared, microwave, ultraviolet, gamma rays
(c) gamma rays, ultraviolet, infrared, microwaves
(d) microwaves, gamma rays, infrared, ultraviolet
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (a) microwave, infrared, ultraviolet, gamma rays

Explanation:
1. Wavelengths decrease in the order microwave, infrared, ultraviolet, gamma rays.

Teacher's Note:
1. Recall the basic fact.

Question 15: The amplitudes of the electric and magnetic fields of an e.m. wave are related by
(a) \( E_0=B_0 \)
(b) \( E_0=cB_0 \)
(c) \( E_0=B_0/c \)
(d) \( E_0=c/B_0 \)
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (b) \( E_0=cB_0 \)

Explanation:
1. E0/B0 = c.

Teacher's Note:
1. Recall the basic fact.

Question 16: An electromagnetic wave consists of periodically oscillating electric and magnetic vectors
(a) in mutually perpendicular planes but vibrating with a phase difference of π
(b) in mutually perpendicular planes but vibrating with a phase difference of π/2
(c) in randomly oriented planes but vibrating in phase
(d) in mutually perpendicular planes but vibrating in phase
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (d) in mutually perpendicular planes but vibrating in phase

Explanation:
1. E and B are perpendicular to each other and oscillate in phase.

Teacher's Note:
1. Recall the basic fact.

Question 17: Match the electromagnetic waves with their frequency ranges.
Column IColumn II
(A) Radio waves(1) 1 × 10¹⁶ to 3 × 10²¹ Hz
(B) Gamma rays(2) 1 × 10⁹ to 3 × 10¹¹ Hz
(C) Microwaves(3) 3 × 10¹⁸ to 5 × 10²² Hz
(D) X-rays(4) 5 × 10⁵ to 10⁹ Hz

(a) A-4, B-2, C-3, D-1
(b) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
(c) A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
(d) A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (b) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1

Explanation:
1. Radio waves are the lowest, 5 × 10⁵ to 10⁹ Hz (A-4).
2. Gamma rays are the highest (B-3).
3. Microwaves lie between 10⁹ and 3 × 10¹¹ Hz (C-2).
4. X-rays are 10¹⁶ to 3 × 10²¹ Hz (D-1).

Teacher's Note:
1. Arrange the spectrum by frequency.

Question 18:
Assertion (A): The basic difference between various types of electromagnetic waves lies in their wavelengths or frequencies.
Reason (R): Electromagnetic waves travel through vacuum with the same speed.
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.

Explanation:
1. All e.m. waves have the same speed in vacuum so they differ only in wavelength or frequency.
2. The statement of equal speed is true but is a related fact rather than a full explanation.

Teacher's Note:
1. Same speed, different frequency.

Question 19: According to Maxwell's equations the velocity of light in any medium is expressed as
(a) \( \frac1{\sqrt{\mu_0\varepsilon_0}} \)
(b) \( \frac1{\sqrt{\mu\varepsilon}} \)
(c) \( \sqrt{\mu/\varepsilon} \)
(d) \( \sqrt{\mu_0/\varepsilon} \)
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (b) \( \frac1{\sqrt{\mu\varepsilon}} \)

Explanation:
1. v = 1/√(με) in a medium.

Teacher's Note:
1. Recall the basic fact.

Question 20: The condition under which a microwave oven heats up a food item containing water molecules most efficiently is
(a) the frequency of the microwaves has no relation with the natural frequency of water molecules
(b) microwaves are heat waves, so always produce heating
(c) infrared waves produce heating in a microwave oven
(d) the frequency of the microwaves must match the resonant frequency of the water molecules
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (d) the frequency of the microwaves must match the resonant frequency of the water molecules

Explanation:
1. Resonant absorption by water molecules gives the most efficient heating.

Teacher's Note:
1. Recall the basic fact.

Question 21: The absorption of radio waves by the atmosphere depends upon
(a) their velocities
(b) their frequencies
(c) their distance from the transmitter
(d) none of these
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (b) their frequencies

Explanation:
1. Absorption and reflection by the atmosphere depend on frequency.

Teacher's Note:
1. Recall the basic fact.

Question 22: Maxwell's equations describe the fundamental laws of
(a) electricity
(b) magnetism
(c) mechanics
(d) both electricity and magnetism
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (d) both electricity and magnetism

Explanation:
1. They unify electricity and magnetism.

Teacher's Note:
1. Recall the basic fact.

Question 23: Which of the following is of the shortest wavelength?
(a) X-rays
(b) gamma rays
(c) microwaves
(d) radio waves
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (b) gamma rays

Explanation:
1. Gamma rays have the shortest wavelength.

Teacher's Note:
1. Recall the basic fact.

Question 24: The magnetic field in a travelling electromagnetic wave has a peak value of 20 nT. The peak value of the electric field strength is
(a) 3 V/m
(b) 6 V/m
(c) 9 V/m
(d) 12 V/m
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (b) 6 V/m

Explanation:
1. E0 = cB0 = 3 × 10⁸ × 20 × 10⁻⁹ = 6 V/m.

Teacher's Note:
1. Recall the basic fact.

Question 25: The intensity of an electromagnetic wave with electric field amplitude E0 and magnetic field amplitude B0 is
(a) \( I=\tfrac12c\varepsilon_0E_0^2 \)
(b) \( I=c\varepsilon_0E_0^2 \)
(c) \( I=\frac{E_0^2}{2c\varepsilon_0} \)
(d) \( I=\frac{cB_0^2}{\mu_0} \)
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (a) \( I=\tfrac12c\varepsilon_0E_0^2 \)

Explanation:
1. The average energy density is (1/2)ε₀E0² (electric and magnetic parts are equal).
2. I = u c = (1/2) c ε₀ E0² = c B0²/(2μ₀).

Teacher's Note:
1. I = u c.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) for JEE Physics Electromagnetic Waves

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