A point source of emits light with efficiency. At a distance of from the source, the intensity produced by the electric field component is:
- A
- B
- C
- D
A point source of emits light with efficiency. At a distance of from the source, the intensity produced by the electric field component is:
Correct answer:A
Standard Method
Given: Source power is , efficiency is , and distance is .
Find: The intensity produced by the electric field component.
Total light power emitted is
The total intensity at distance is
This intensity is due to both electric and magnetic field components. Therefore, the intensity due to the electric field component alone is half of the total intensity:
Therefore, the intensity produced by the electric field component is . The solution concludes this value but labels it as option A; among the given options, this value matches option B.
Answer Discrepancy Note
The solution explicitly computes the final value as
Both approaches on the page state this same numerical result. However, the page incorrectly says "The Correct Option is A". Comparing with the listed options shows that is actually option B. Hence the defensible answer is B.
Using the full source power instead of applying the efficiency is incorrect because only is emitted as light. First calculate radiated light power, then intensity.
Forgetting spherical spreading and not dividing by is wrong because a point source distributes power over the surface area of a sphere. Use area at distance .
Taking the total electromagnetic intensity as the electric-field contribution is incorrect because the total intensity is shared equally by electric and magnetic fields. After finding total intensity, take one-half for the electric field component.
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