Question

$\cdot$ CE Suppose the magnitude of the electric field in an electromagnetic wave is doubled. (a) By what factor does the magnitude of the magnetic field change? (b) By what factor does the maximum intensity of the wave change?

Name: Problem 81, Chapter 25: Physics
Uploaded: 2020-04-03T01:34:10-08:00
Duration: 2 min 58 s
Channel: Nathan Silvano
Description: ·CE Suppose the magnitude of the electric field in an electromagnetic wave is doubled. (a) By what factor does the magnitude of the magnetic field change? (b) By what factor does the maximum intensity of the wave change?

   $\cdot$ CE Suppose the magnitude of the electric field in an electromagnetic wave is doubled. (a) By what factor does the magnitude of
the magnetic field change? (b) By what factor does the maximum
intensity of the wave change?

Physics

James S. Walker 5th Edition

Chapter 25, Problem 81

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Solved by Expert Nathan Silvano

04/03/2020

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This equation tells us that the electric field is directly proportional to the magnetic field. Show more…

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$\cdot$ CE Suppose the magnitude of the electric field in an electromagnetic wave is doubled. (a) By what factor does the magnitude of the magnetic field change? (b) By what factor does the maximum intensity of the wave change?

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Key Concepts

Electric and Magnetic Fields Relationship in Electromagnetic Waves

In a free-space electromagnetic wave, the magnitudes of the electric (E) and magnetic (B) fields are related by the speed of light, typically expressed as E = cB. This relationship ensures that if one field's magnitude is altered (for example, through doubling), the other field's magnitude changes by the same proportional factor to maintain the fundamental balance dictated by Maxwell’s equations.

Intensity Scaling in Electromagnetic Waves

The intensity of an electromagnetic wave is proportional to the square of the amplitude of its electric field (and similarly to the square of its magnetic field). This quadratic relationship means that if the electric field is doubled, the intensity of the wave increases by a factor of four. This concept is crucial for understanding how changes in field strengths affect the energy transmission in electromagnetic phenomena.

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