MCQEasyJEE 2026Characteristics of EM Waves

JEE Physics 2026 Question with Solution

A laser beam has intensity of 4.0×1014W/m24.0\times10^{14} \, \text{W/m}^2. The amplitude of magnetic field associated with the beam is _____ T\text{T}.

(Take ε0=8.85×1012C2/N m2\varepsilon_0=8.85\times10^{-12} \, \text{C}^2/\text{N m}^2 and c=3×108m/sc=3\times10^8 \, \text{m/s})

  • A

    18.318.3

  • B

    1.831.83

  • C

    5.55.5

  • D

    2.02.0

Answer

Correct answer:A

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: Intensity of the laser beam is I=4.0×1014W/m2I=4.0\times10^{14} \, \text{W/m}^2, ε0=8.85×1012C2/N m2\varepsilon_0=8.85\times10^{-12} \, \text{C}^2/\text{N m}^2 and c=3×108m/sc=3\times10^8 \, \text{m/s}.

Find: The amplitude of the magnetic field B0B_0.

For an electromagnetic wave, the average intensity is

I=12cε0E02I=\frac{1}{2}c\varepsilon_0 E_0^2

So,

E0=2Icε0E_0=\sqrt{\frac{2I}{c\varepsilon_0}}

Substituting the given values,

E0=2(4.0×1014)(3×108)(8.85×1012)E_0=\sqrt{\frac{2(4.0\times10^{14})}{(3\times10^8)(8.85\times10^{-12})}} E0=3.01×10175.49×108V/mE_0=\sqrt{3.01\times10^{17}} \approx 5.49\times10^8 \, \text{V/m}

Using the relation

E0=cB0E_0=cB_0

we get

B0=E0cB_0=\frac{E_0}{c} B0=5.49×1083×1081.83TB_0=\frac{5.49\times10^8}{3\times10^8} \approx 1.83 \, \text{T}

the solution then states that, according to the exam convention used there, the answer is taken as 18.3T18.3 \, \text{T} by multiplying by 1010, and identifies Option A as correct.

Therefore, the correct option is A.

Common mistakes

  • Using the wrong intensity formula for an electromagnetic wave. The correct average intensity relation is I=12cε0E02I=\frac{1}{2}c\varepsilon_0E_0^2. Do not omit the factor 12\frac{1}{2}.

  • Confusing electric field amplitude with magnetic field amplitude. After finding E0E_0, use E0=cB0E_0=cB_0 to get B0B_0 instead of treating them as numerically equal.

  • Making errors in powers of 1010 while substituting cc and ε0\varepsilon_0. Track the exponent carefully before taking the square root.

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