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An electromagnetic wave propagating in free space has a magnetic field amplitude of 100 nT Calculate the electric field amplitude, the energy density of both the electric and the magnetic field, and the total energy density of the wave.

User Mit
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Answer:

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the electric field amplitude (E), we can use the relationship between the electric field amplitude and the magnetic field amplitude in an electromagnetic wave:

E = c * B

Where:

E is the electric field amplitude,

B is the magnetic field amplitude,

c is the speed of light in vacuum (approximately 3.0 x 10^8 m/s).

Given:

B = 100 nT = 100 x 10^-9 T

Substituting the values into the equation:

E = (3.0 x 10^8 m/s) * (100 x 10^-9 T)

E = 30 V/m

The electric field amplitude is 30 V/m.

Next, to calculate the energy density of the electric field (uE), we use the formula:

uE = (1/2) * ε0 * E^2

Where:

uE is the energy density of the electric field,

ε0 is the vacuum permittivity (approximately 8.854 x 10^-12 C^2/(N*m^2)),

E is the electric field amplitude.

Substituting the values:

uE = (1/2) * (8.854 x 10^-12 C^2/(N*m^2)) * (30 V/m)^2

uE ≈ 3.99 x 10^-10 J/m^3

The energy density of the electric field is approximately 3.99 x 10^-10 J/m^3.

To calculate the energy density of the magnetic field (uB), we use the formula:

uB = (1/2) * (1/μ0) * B^2

Where:

uB is the energy density of the magnetic field,

μ0 is the vacuum permeability (approximately 4π x 10^-7 T*m/A),

B is the magnetic field amplitude.

Substituting the values:

uB = (1/2) * (1/(4π x 10^-7 T*m/A)) * (100 x 10^-9 T)^2

uB ≈ 1.59 x 10^-13 J/m^3

The energy density of the magnetic field is approximately 1.59 x 10^-13 J/m^3.

Finally, the total energy density (u) of the wave is the sum of the energy densities of the electric and magnetic fields:

u = uE + uB

u ≈ 3.99 x 10^-10 J/m^3 + 1.59 x 10^-13 J/m^3

u ≈ 3.99 x 10^-10 J/m^3

The total energy density of the wave is approximately 3.99 x 10^-10 J/m^3.

User Federico Scamuzzi
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