Fundamentals of Physics Extended (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1-11823-072-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-11823-072-5

Chapter 33 - Electromagnetic Waves - Problems - Page 1009: 105b

Answer

The wave is polarized parallel to the z axis.

Work Step by Step

In part (a), we found that the wave travels in the negative direction of the y axis. According to the equation for the magnetic field component, the $B_x$ shows that the magnetic field oscillates parallel to the x axis. The direction of an electromagnetic wave is given by: $E \times B$ By the right hand rule, the electric field oscillates parallel to the z axis. Therefore, the wave is polarized parallel to the z axis.
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