NCERT Solutions For Class 12 Physics Chapter 8 Electromagnetic Waves

NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Physics Chapter 8
Electromagnetic Waves
Q 8.1) The Figure shows a capacitor made of two circular plates each of radius 12 cm and
separated by 5.0 cm. The capacitor is being charged by an external source (not shown in the
figure). The charging current is constant and equal to 0.15A.
(a) Calculate the capacitance and the rate of change of the potential difference between the
plates.
(b) Obtain the displacement current across the plates.
(c) Is Kirchhoff’s first rule (junction rule) valid at each plate of the capacitor? Explain.
Solution:
Given Values:
The radius of each circular plate (r) is 12 cm or 0.12 m
The distance between the plates (d) is 5 cm or 0.05 m
The charging current (I) is 0.15 A
(a) The capacitance between the two plates can be calculated as follows:
where,
= 80.032 pF
The charge on each plate is given by,

q = CV
where,
V is the potential difference across the plates
Differentiation on both sides with respect to time (t) gives:
(b) The displacement current across the plates is the same as the conduction current. Hence, the
displacement current, id is 0.15 A.
(c) Yes
Kirchhoff’s first rule is valid at each plate of the capacitor provided that we take the sum of conduction
and displacement for current.
Q 8.2) A parallel plate capacitor made of circular plates each of radius R = 6.0 cm has a
capacitance C = 100 pF. The capacitor is connected to a 230 V ac supply with an (angular)
frequency of 300 rad s–1.
(a) What is the rms value of the conduction current?
(b) Is the conduction current equal to the displacement current?
(c) Determine the amplitude of B at a point 3.0 cm from the axis between the plates.
Solution:
Where,
(b) Yes, conduction current is equivalent to displacement current.

(c) Magnetic field is given as:
Where,
Q 8.3) What physical quantity is the same for X-rays of wavelength 10–10m, the red light of
wavelength 6800 Å and radiowaves of wavelength 500m?
Solution:
The speed of light (3 x 108 m/s) in a vacuum is the same for all wavelengths. It is independent of the
wavelength in the vacuum.
Q 8.4) A plane electromagnetic wave travels in vacuum along the z-direction. What can you say
about the directions of its electric and magnetic field vectors? If the frequency of the wave is 30
MHz, what is its wavelength?
Solution:
The electromagnetic wave travels in a vacuum along the z-direction. The electric field (E) and the
magnetic field (H) are in the x-y plane. They are mutually perpendicular.
Frequency of the wave, v = 30 MHz = 30 x 106 s-1
Speed of light in vacuum, C = 3 x 108 m/s
Wavelength of a wave is given as:
Q 8.5) A radio can tune in to any station in the 7.5 MHz to 12 MHz bands. What is the
corresponding wavelength band?
Solution:
Thus, the wavelength band of the radio is 40 m to 25 m.
Q 8.6) A charged particle oscillates about its mean equilibrium position with a frequency of
109 Hz. What is the frequency of the electromagnetic waves produced by the oscillator?
Solution:
The frequency of an electromagnetic wave produced by the oscillator is the same as that of a charged
particle oscillating about its mean position i.e., 109 Hz.
Q 8.7) The amplitude of the magnetic field part of a harmonic electromagnetic wave in vacuum
is B0=510 nT. What is the amplitude of the electric field part of the wave?
Solution:
Amplitude of magnetic field of an electromagnetic wave in a vacuum,
Amplitude of electric field of an electromagnetic wave is given by the relation,
Therefore, the electric field part of the wave is 153 N/C.
Solution:
(a) Magnitude of magnetic field strength is given as:
Angular frequency of source is given by:
Propagation constant is given as:
Wavelength of wave is given by:

(b) Suppose the wave is propagating in the positive x-direction. Then, the electric field vector will be in
the positive y-direction and the magnetic field vector will be in the positive z-direction. This is because
all three vectors are mutually perpendicular.
Equation of electric field vector is given as:
And, magnetic field vector is given as:
Q 8.9) The terminology of different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum is given in the text.
Use the formula E = hν (for the energy of a quantum of radiation: photon) and obtain the photon
energy in units of eV for different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. In what way are the
different scales of photon energies that you obtain related to the sources of electromagnetic
radiation?
Solution:
The energy of a photon is given as:
Where,
If the wavelength λ is in metre and the energy is in Joule, then by dividing E by 1.6 × 10-19 will convert
the energy into eV.
a) For Gamma rays, the wavelength ranges from 10-10 to 10-14 m, therefore the photon energy can
be calculated as follows:
Therefore,
The energy for Gamma rays ranges from 104 to 108 eV.
b) The wavelength for X-rays ranges between 10-8 m to 10-13 m
For λ = 10-8,
For λ = 10-13 m, energy = 107 eV

c) For ultraviolet radiation, the wavelength ranges from 4 × 10-7 m to 6 × 10-7 m.
For 4 × 10-7 m,
For 6 × 10-7 m, the energy is equal to 103 eV.

The energy of the ultraviolet radiation varies between 1010 to 103 eV.
d) For visible light, the wavelength ranges from 4 × 10-7 m to 7 × 10-7 m.
For 4 × 10-7, the energy is the same as above, that is 1010 eV
For 7 × 10-7 m, the energy is 100 eV
e) For infrared radiation, the wavelength ranges between 7 × 10-7 m to 7 × 10-14 m.
The energy for 7 × 10-7 m is 100 eV
The energy for 7 × 10-14 m is 10-3 eV
f) For microwaves, the wavelength ranges from 1 mm to 0.3 m.
For 1 mm, the energy is 10-3 eV.
For 0.3 m, the energy is 10-6 eV.
g) For radio waves, the wavelength ranges from 1 m to few km.
For 1 m, the energy is 10-6 eV.
The photon energies for the different parts of the spectrum of a source indicate the spacing of the
relevant energy levels of the source
Q 8.10) In a plane electromagnetic wave, the electric field oscillates sinusoidally at a frequency
of 2.0 × 1010 Hz and amplitude 48 V m–1.
(a) What is the wavelength of the wave?
(b) What is the amplitude of the oscillating magnetic field?
(c) Show that the average energy density of the E field equals the average energy density of the
B field. [c = 3 x 108 m s-1]
Solution:
Electric field amplitude, E0 = 48 V m-1

Speed of light, c = 3 x 108 m/s
(a) Wavelength of a wave is given as:
(b) Magnetic field strength is given as:
(c) Energy density of the electric field is given as:
And, energy density of the magnetic field is given as:
Where,
E = cB …(1)
Where,
Putting equation (2) in equation (1), we get
Squaring on both sides, we get
Q 8.11) Suppose that the electric field part of an electromagnetic wave in vacuum is E = {(3.1
N/C) cos [(1.8 rad/m) y + (5.4 × 106 rad/s)t]} ˆi .
(a) What is the direction of propagation?
(b) What is the wavelength λ?
(c) What is the frequency ν?
(d) What is the amplitude of the magnetic field part of the wave?
(e) Write an expression for the magnetic field part of the wave.
Solution:
(a) The direction of motion is along the negative y-direction. i.e., along -j.
(b) The given equation is compared with the equation,
E = E0 cos (ky + ωt)
⇒ k = 1.8 rad/s
ω = 5.4 x 106 rad/s
λ = 2π/k = (2 x 3.14)/1.8 = 3.492 m
(c) Frequency, ν = ω/2π = 5.4 x 106/(2 x 3.14) = 0.859 x 106 Hz
(d) Amplitude of the magnetic field, B0 = E0/c
= 3.1/(3 x 108) = 1.03 x 10-8 T= 10.3 x 10-9 T= 10.3 nT
(e) Bz = B0 cos (ky + ωt)ˆk ={(10.3 nT) cos[(1.8 rad/m)y + (5.4 × 106 rad/s)t]} kˆ
Q 8. 12) About 5% of the power of a 100 W light bulb is converted to visible radiation. What is
the average intensity of visible radiation
(a) at a distance of 1m from the bulb?
(b) at a distance of 10 m?
Assume that the radiation is emitted isotropically and neglect reflection.
Solution:
(a) Average intensity of the visible radiation, I = P’/4πd2
Here, the power of the visible radiation, P’ = (5/100) x 100 = 5 W
At d = 1 m
I = P’/4πd2 = 5/(4 x 3.14 x 12) = 5/12.56 = 0.39 W/m2
(b) At d = 10 m
I = P’/4πd2 = 5/(4 x 3.14 x 102) = 5/1256 = 0.39 x 10-2 W/m2
Q 8.13) Use the formula λ m T = 0.29 cm K to obtain the characteristic temperature ranges for
different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. What do the numbers that you obtain tell you?
Solution:
We have the equation, λ m T = 0.29 cm K
⇒ T = (0.29/λ m) cm K
Here, T is the temperature
λ m is the maximum wavelength of the wave
For λ m = 10-4 cm
T = (0.29/10-4) cm K = 2900 K
For the visible light, λ m = 5 x 10-5 cm
T = (0.29/ 5 x 10-5) cm K ≈ 6000 K
Note: a lower temperature will also produce wavelength but not with maximum intensity.
Q 8. 14) Given below are some famous numbers associated with electromagnetic radiations in
different contexts in physics. State the part of the electromagnetic spectrum to which each
belongs.
(a) 21 cm (wavelength emitted by atomic hydrogen in interstellar space).
(b) 1057 MHz (frequency of radiation arising from two close energy levels in hydrogen; known
as Lamb shift).
(c) 2.7 K [temperature associated with the isotropic radiation filling all space-thought to be a
relic of the ‘big-bang’ origin of the universe].
(d) 5890 Å – 5896 Å [double lines of sodium]
(e) 14.4 keV [energy of a particular transition in 57Fe nucleus associated with a famous high-
resolution spectroscopic method (Mössbauer spectroscopy)].
Solution:
(a) Radio waves (short-wavelength end)
(b) Radio waves (short-wavelength end)
(c) Microwave
(d) Visible light (Yellow)
(e) X-rays (or soft γ-rays) region
Q 8.15) Answer the following questions:

(a) Long-distance radio broadcasts use short-wave bands. Why?
(b) It is necessary to use satellites for long-distance TV transmission. Why?
(c) Optical and radio telescopes are built on the ground but X-ray astronomy is possible only
from satellites orbiting the earth. Why?
(d) The small ozone layer on top of the stratosphere is crucial for human survival. Why?
(e) If the earth did not have an atmosphere, would its average surface temperature be higher or
lower than what it is now?
(f) Some scientists have predicted that a global nuclear war on the earth would be followed by a
severe ‘nuclear winter’ with a devastating effect on life on earth. What might be the basis of this
prediction?
Solution:
(a) Ionosphere reflects waves in the shortwave bands.
(b) Television signals have high frequency and high energy. Therefore, it is not properly reflected by the
ionosphere. Satellites are used to reflect the TV signals.
(c) Atmosphere absorbs X-rays, while visible and radio waves can penetrate it.
(d) Ozone layer absorbs the ultraviolet radiations from the sunlight and prevents it from reaching the
surface of the earth and causing damage to life.
(e) If the atmosphere is not present, there would be no greenhouse effect. As a result, the temperature
of the earth would decrease.
(f) The smoke clouds produced by global nuclear war would perhaps cover substantial parts of the sky
preventing solar light from reaching many parts of the globe. This would cause a ‘winter’.

NCERT Solutions For Class 12 Physics Chapter 8 Electromagnetic Waves

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NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Physics Chapter 8

The charge on each plate is given by,

(b) Yes, conduction current is equivalent to displacement current.

(c) Magnetic field is given as:

Thus, the wavelength band of the radio is 40 m to 25 m.

Amplitude of electric field of an electromagnetic wave is given by the relation,

Therefore, the electric field part of the wave is 153 N/C.

(a) Magnitude of magnetic field strength is given as:

Angular frequency of source is given by:

Propagation constant is given as:

Wavelength of wave is given by:

And, magnetic field vector is given as:

For λ = 10-13 m, energy = 107 eV

For 6 × 10-7 m, the energy is equal to 103 eV.

Electric field amplitude, E0 = 48 V m-1

(b) Magnetic field strength is given as:

(c) Energy density of the electric field is given as:

And, energy density of the magnetic field is given as:

Putting equation (2) in equation (1), we get

Squaring on both sides, we get

Q 8.15) Answer the following questions:

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