Question

What is the maximum electric field strength (in kV/m) in an electromagnetic wave that has a maximum magnetic field strength of 5.30 ✕ 10−4 T (about 10 times the Earth's)? kV/m

Answer 1

The maximum electric field E and the maximum magnetic field B in an electromagnetic wave are related through the equation:

`E=cB`

Where c is the speed of light.

Replace c=3✕10^8 m/s and B=5.30✕10^−4 T to find the electric field:

`\begin{gathered} E=(3*10^8(m)/(s))(5.30*10^(-4)T) \\ \\ =159,000(m)/(s)\cdot(N)/(C\cdot(m)/(s)) \\ \\ =159,000(N)/(C) \\ \\ =159,000(J)/(Cm) \\ \\ =159,000(V)/(m) \\ \\ =159(kV)/(m) \end{gathered}`

Therefore, the maximum electric field strength in that electromagnetic wave is 159 kV/m.