Question

On a sunny summer day, the intensity of sunlight at the earth's surface is about 1000 W/m2. What are the peak electric and magnetic fields in this sunlight?

Answer 1

peak value of magnetic field is

`B_o = 2.9 * 10^(-6) T`

peak value of electric field is

`E_o = 868 N/C`

Step-by-step explanation:

As we know that the intensity of electromagnetic waves is given by the formula

`I = \epsilon_0 E_(rms)^2 c`

here we have

`I = 1000 W/m^2`

`\epsilon_0 = 8.85 * 10^(-12)`

`c = 3* 10^8`

now we have

`1000 = (8.85 * 10^(-12))E_(rms)^2(3 * 10^8)`

`E_(rms) = 614 N/C`

now peak value of electric field is given as

`E_o = \sqrt2 E_(rms)`

So the peak value of electric field is given as

`E_o = 868 N/C`

Now we have relation between electric field and magnetic field as

`B_o = (E_o)/(c)`

`B_o = (868)/(3* 10^8)`

`B_o = 2.9 * 10^(-6) T`