NVAEasyJEE 2026Characteristics of EM Waves

JEE Physics 2026 Question with Solution

The electric field of a plane electromagnetic wave, travelling in an unknown non-magnetic medium is given by,

Ey=20sin(3×106x4.5×1014t)V/mE_y = 20 \sin (3 \times 10^6 x - 4.5 \times 10^{14} t) \, V/m

(where xx, tt and other values have S.I. units). The dielectric constant of the medium is _____.

Answer

Correct answer:4

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given:

  • Electric field of the plane electromagnetic wave:
E=E0sin(kxωt)E = E_0 \sin (kx - \omega t)
  • From the given equation,
k=3×106m1k = 3 \times 10^6 \, \text{m}^{-1} ω=4.5×1014rad/s\omega = 4.5 \times 10^{14} \, \text{rad/s}

Find: The dielectric constant of the non-magnetic medium.

The general equation of a plane electromagnetic wave is:

E=E0sin(kxωt)E = E_0 \sin (kx - \omega t)

Comparing with the given equation gives the values of kk and ω\omega above.

Step 1: Calculate the speed of the wave in the medium.

v=ωk=4.5×10143×106v = \frac{\omega}{k} = \frac{4.5 \times 10^{14}}{3 \times 10^6} v=1.5×108m/sv = 1.5 \times 10^8 \, \text{m/s}

Step 2: Find refractive index of the medium. Speed of light in vacuum:

c=3×108m/sc = 3 \times 10^8 \, \text{m/s} n=cv=3×1081.5×108=2n = \frac{c}{v} = \frac{3 \times 10^8}{1.5 \times 10^8} = 2

Step 3: Calculate dielectric constant. Since the medium is non-magnetic:

εr=n2=22=4\varepsilon_r = n^2 = 2^2 = 4

Therefore, the dielectric constant of the medium is 44.

Using refractive index relation

Given: For a non-magnetic medium, dielectric constant is equal to the square of the refractive index.

Find: The value of dielectric constant.

First determine the wave speed from the wave equation coefficients:

v=ωkv = \frac{\omega}{k}

Substituting,

v=4.5×10143×106=1.5×108m/sv = \frac{4.5 \times 10^{14}}{3 \times 10^6} = 1.5 \times 10^8 \, \text{m/s}

Now compare with the speed of light in vacuum:

n=cv=3×1081.5×108=2n = \frac{c}{v} = \frac{3 \times 10^8}{1.5 \times 10^8} = 2

For a non-magnetic medium,

εr=n2\varepsilon_r = n^2

Hence,

εr=4\varepsilon_r = 4

So, the required numerical answer is 44.

Common mistakes

  • Using v=kωv = \frac{k}{\omega} instead of v=ωkv = \frac{\omega}{k}. This inverts the wave speed and gives an incorrect refractive index. Always compare the given wave with E=E0sin(kxωt)E = E_0 \sin(kx - \omega t) and use v=ωkv = \frac{\omega}{k}.

  • Taking dielectric constant equal to refractive index. This is wrong for a non-magnetic medium because the correct relation is εr=n2\varepsilon_r = n^2, not εr=n\varepsilon_r = n. First find nn, then square it.

  • Ignoring that the medium is non-magnetic. The relation εr=n2\varepsilon_r = n^2 holds here because magnetic permeability is effectively that of free space. Use the non-magnetic condition before converting refractive index to dielectric constant.

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