The Physics
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Opus in profectus

Electromagnetic Waves

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Practice

practice problem 1

Determine the following quanities at a distance of one meter from a 100 W light bulb…
  1. the peak electric field
  2. the peak magnetic field
  3. the radiation pressure

solution

  1. Set the definition of power density equal to the Poynting vector.

    P  =  1  EB
    A μ0

    The speed of light is the ratio of the electric to magnetic fields. Rearrange this equation.

    B =  E  ⇐  c =  E
    c B

    Substitute the second equation into the first to eliminate the magnetic field.

    P  =  1  E  E  =  E2
    A μ0 c μ0c

    Solve for the electric field and imagine the energy spread out over the surface of a 1 m radius sphere.

    E = √ Pμ0c  = √ Pμ0c
    A r2
    E = √ (100 W)(4π × 10−7 N/A2)(3.00 × 108 m/s)
    4π(1 m)2
    E = 54.8 N/C or 54.8 V/m

    This is a field strength that could be measured with relatively inexpensive equipment if it weren't fluctuating so rapidly. (Visible light frequencies are too high to measure directly.) For comparison, the average fair weather electric field on the surface of the Earth (120 V/m) is only about twice as big.

  2. Substitute back into the second equation to determine the magnetic field.

    B =  E
    c
    B =  54.8 N/C
    3.00 × 108 m/s
    B = 1.83 × 10−7 T = 183 nT

    Again, this is a field strength that could be measured with fairly inexpensive equipment if it weren't fluctuating so rapidly. For comparison, the average magnetic field on the surface of the Earth (45 μT) is 250 times stronger and does not vary much with time.

  3. Use the radiation pressure equation to determine the radiation pressure (duh).

    P = ½ε0E2
    P = ½(8.85 × 10−12 C2/N m2)(54.8 N/C)2
    P = 1.33 × 10−8 Pa = 13.3 nPa

    Such a weak pressure is imperceptible under ordinary circumstances and difficult to measure in the laboratory without delicate apparatus. For comparison, standard atmospheric pressure (101 kPa) is 8 trillion times stronger. Light pressure is easy to ignore.

practice problem 2

Write something.

solution

Answer it.

practice problem 3

Write something.

solution

Answer it.

practice problem 4

Write something completely different.

solution

Answer it.