NEETPhysics

Electromagnetic Waves

26 NEET Physics previous year questions on Electromagnetic Waves — options free on every question; 3 include the answer & explanation free, the rest unlock with PYQ Pass.

Q1 FREE PREVIEW
PYQ
The condition under which a microwave oven heats up a food item containing water molecules most efficiently is
amicrowaves are heat waves, so always produce heating
binfra-red waves produce heating in a microwave oven
cthe frequency of the microwaves must match the resonant frequency of the water molecules
dthe frequency of the microwaves has no relation with natural frequency of water molecules.
✓ Correct answer: c) the frequency of the microwaves must match the resonant frequency of the water molecules
ExplanationIn a microwave oven, the frequency of the microwaves matches with the resonant frequency of water molecules so that the maximum heat can be transferred to food in most efficient way.Thus, the frequency of the microwaves must match the resonant frequency of the water molecules.
Q2 FREE PREVIEW
PYQ

The electric field in a plane electromagnetic wave is given by \({\mathrm{E}}_{\mathrm{z}}=60\cos \left(5\mathrm{x}+1.5\times {10}^{9}\mathrm{t}\right)\mathrm{V}/\mathrm{m}.\)
Then expression for the coresponding magnetic field is (here subscripts denote the direction of the field) :

[NEET 2025]

a

\({\mathrm{B}}_{\mathrm{z}}=60\cos \left(5\mathrm{x}+1.5\times {10}^{9}\mathrm{t}\right)\mathrm{T}\)

b

\({\mathrm{B}}_{\mathrm{y}}=60\sin \left(5\mathrm{x}+1.5\times {10}^{9}\mathrm{t}\right)\mathrm{T}\)

c

\({\mathrm{B}}_{\mathrm{y}}=2\times {10}^{-7}\cos \left(5\mathrm{x}+1.5\times {10}^{9}t\right)\mathrm{T}\)

d

\({\mathrm{B}}_{\mathrm{x}}=2\times {10}^{-7}\cos \left(5\mathrm{x}+1.5\times {10}^{9}\mathrm{t}\right)\mathrm{T}\)

✓ Correct answer: c)

\({\mathrm{B}}_{\mathrm{y}}=2\times {10}^{-7}\cos \left(5\mathrm{x}+1.5\times {10}^{9}t\right)\mathrm{T}\)

Explanation

In electromagnetic wave, E and B are in same phase and \(B_0=\frac{E_0}{c}\); their planes are perpendicular to each other.

\(\begin{array}{l}\therefore B_y=\frac{60}{c} \cos \left(5 x+1.5 \times 10^9 t\right) T \\ =\frac{60}{3 \times 10^8} \cos \left(5 x+1.5 \times 10^9 t\right) T \\ B_y=2 \times 10^{-7} \cos \left(5 x+1.5 \times 10^9 t\right) T \end{array}\)

Q3 FREE PREVIEW
PYQ

A parallel plate capacitor is charged by connecting it to a battery through a resistor. If I is the current in the circuit, then in the gap between the plates:

[NEET 2024]

a

there is no current.

b

displacement current of magnitude equal to I flows in the same direction as I.

c

displacement current of magnitude equal to I flows in a direction opposite to that of I.

d

displacement current of magnitude greater than I flows but can be in any direction.

✓ Correct answer: b)

displacement current of magnitude equal to I flows in the same direction as I.

Explanation

While the capacitor charges, the conduction current \(I\) in the external circuit produces a changing electric field between the plates. Maxwell’s displacement current \({I}_{D}={\epsilon }_{0}\frac{d{ϕ}_{E}}{dt}\) equals this conduction current at every instant (\({I}_{D}=I\)) to maintain continuity. Its direction is the same as that of the conduction current, effectively “completing” the circuit through the gap.

Q4
PYQ

If the ratio of relative permeability and relative permittivity of a uniform medium is \(1:4\). The ratio of the magnitudes of electric field intensity (E) to the magnetic field intensity \((\mathrm{H})\) of an EM wave propagating in that medium is (Given that \(\sqrt{\frac{{\mu }_{0}}{{\epsilon }_{0}}}=120\pi :1\) )

[Re-NEET 2024]

a

\(30\pi :1\)

b

\(1:120\pi\)

c

\(60\pi :1\)

d

\(120\pi :1\)

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Q5
PYQ

Select the correct statements among the following :
A. Slow neutrons can cause fission in \({}_{92}^{235}\mathrm{U}\) than fast neutrons.
B. \(\alpha\)-rays are helium nuclei.     
C. \(\beta\)-rays are fast moving electrons or positrons.
D. \(\gamma\)-rays are electromagnetic radiations of wavelengths larger than \(X\)-rays.

Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

a

A, B and C only

b

A, B and D only

c

A and B only

d

C and D only

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Q6
PYQ

Which of the following is NOT a property of an electromagnetic wave travelling in free space?

a

They are transverse in nature.

b

The energy density in electric field is equal to energy density in magnetic field.

c

They travel with a speed equal to \(\frac{1}{\sqrt{{\mu }_{0}{\in }_{0}}}\).

d

They originate from charges moving with uniform speed.

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Q7
PYQ

A capacitor of capacitance \( C \) is connected across an ac source of voltage \( V \) is given by \( V=V_{0} \sin \omega t \).The displacement current between the plates of the capacitor would be given by

[NEET 2021]

a

\(I_d=V_0 \omega C \cos \omega t\)

b

\(I_d=\frac{V_0}{\omega C} \cos \omega t\)

c

\(I_d=\frac{V_0}{\omega C} \sin \omega t\)

d

\(I_d=V_0 \omega C \sin \omega t\)

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Q8
PYQ

Given below are two statement : one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R.
Assertion A: EM waves used for optical communication have longer wavelengths than that of microwave, employed in Radar technology.
Reason R: Infrared EM waves are more energetic than microwaves, (used in Radar)
In the light of given statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

a

A is false but R is true

b

A is true but R is false

c

Both A and R true but R is not the correct explanation of A

d

Both A and R true and R is the correct explanation of A

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Q9
PYQ

A capacitor of capacitance \( C \) , is connected across an ac source of voltage \( V \), given by \( V=V_{0} \sin \omega t \)

The displacement current between the plates of the capacitor, would then be given by

[NEET 2021]

a

\(I_d=V_0 \omega C \cos \omega t\)

b

\(I_d=\frac{V_0}{\omega C} \cos \omega t\)

c

\(I_d=\frac{V_0}{\omega C} \sin \omega t\)

d

\(I_d=V_0 \omega C \sin \omega t\)

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Q10
PYQ

The E.M. wave with shortest wavelength among the following is,

[Re-NEET 2020]

a

Microwaves

b

Ultraviolet rays

c

X-rays

d

Gamma-rays

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Q11
PYQ

Light with an average flux of \( 20 \mathrm{~W} / \mathrm{cm}^{2} \) falls on nonreflecting surface at normal incidence having surface area \( 20 \mathrm{~cm}^{2} \). The energy received by the surface during time span of 1 minute is:

[NEET 2020]

a

\( 12 \times 10^{3} \mathrm{~J} \)

b

\( 24 \times 10^{3} \mathrm{~J} \)

c

\( 48 \times 10^{3} \mathrm{~J} \)

d

\( 10 \times 10^{3} \mathrm{~J} \)

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Q12
PYQ

In a plane electromagnetic wave travelling in free space, the electric field component oscillates sinusoidally at a frequency of \(2.0\times {10}^{10}\mathrm{Hz}\) and amplitude \(48{\mathrm{Vm}}^{-1}\). Then the amplitude of oscillating magnetic field is : (Speed of light in free space \(=3\times {10}^{8}\mathrm{m}{\mathrm{s}}^{-1}\))

[NEET 2023]

a

\(1.6\times {10}^{-8}\mathrm{T}\)

b

\(1.6\times {10}^{-7}\mathrm{T}\)

c

\(1.6\times {10}^{-6}\mathrm{T}\)

d

\(1.6\times {10}^{-9}\mathrm{T}\)

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Q13
PYQ

The energy of an electromagnetic wave contained in a small volume oscillates with

[JEE Main 2023, 10 Apr (Shift 1)]

a

Zero frequency

b

Half the frequency of the wave

c

Double the frequency of the wave

d

The frequency of the wave

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Q14
PYQ

Which of the following Maxwell's equations is valid for time varying conditions but not valid for static conditions:

[JEE Main 2023, 13 Apr (Shift 1)]

a

\(∮\vec{B}\cdot \vec{dl}={\mu }_{0}I\)

b

\(∮\vec{E}\cdot \vec{dl}=0\)

c

\(∮\vec{E}\cdot \vec{dl}=-\frac{\partial {ϕ}_{B}}{\partial t}\)

d

\(∮\vec{D}\cdot \vec{dA}=Q\)

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Q15
PYQ

The magnetic field in a plane electromagnetic wave is given by \(B_y=2 \times 10^{-7} \sin \left(\pi \times 10^3 x+3 \pi \times 10^{11} t\right)\)T. Calculate the wavelength.

a

\(\pi \times 10^{-3} \mathrm{~m}\)

b

\(\pi \times 10^3 \mathrm{~m}\)

c

\(2 \times 10^{-3} \mathrm{~m}\)

d

\(2 \times 10^3 \mathrm{~m}\)

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Q16
PYQ

The ratio of contributions made by the electric field and magnetic field components to the intensity of an electromagnetic wave is \( (c= \) speed of electromagnetic waves)

a

\(c:1\)

b

\(1:1\)

c

\(1:c\)

d

\(1:{c}^{2}\)

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Q17
PYQ

Electric field in a plane electromagnetic wave is given by \(\mathrm{E}=50\sin \left(500x-10\times {10}^{10}t\right)\mathrm{V}/\mathrm{m}\)

The velocity of electromagnetic wave in this medium is : (Given c= speed of light in vacuum)

[JEE Main 2021, 27 Aug (Shift 1)]

a

c

b

\(\frac{c}{2}\)

c

\(\frac{2}{3}c\)

d

\(\frac{3}{2}c\)

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Q18
PYQ

A point source of \(100\mathrm{W}\) emits light with 5% efficiency. At a distance of \(5\mathrm{m}\) from the source, the intensity produced by the electric field component is:

a

\(\frac{1}{2\pi }\frac{\mathrm{W}}{{\mathrm{m}}^{2}}\)

b

\(\frac{1}{40\pi }\frac{W}{{m}^{2}}\)

c

\(\frac{1}{10\pi }\frac{W}{{m}^{2}}\)

d

\(\frac{1}{20\pi }\frac{W}{{m}^{2}}\)

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Q19
PYQ

The electric field in an electromagnetic wave is given as \(\vec{\mathrm{E}}=20\sin \omega \left(\mathrm{t}-\frac{\mathrm{x}}{\mathrm{c}}\right)\hat{j}N/C\) Where \(\omega\) and c are angular frequency and velocity of electromagnetic wave respectively. The energy contained in a volume of \(5\times {10}^{-4}{\mathrm{m}}^{3}\) will be (Given \({\epsilon }_{0}=8.85\times {10}^{-12}{\mathrm{C}}^{2}/{\mathrm{Nm}}^{2}\) )

a

\(28.5\times {10}^{-13}\mathrm{J}\)

b

\(17.7\times {10}^{-13}\mathrm{J}\)

c

\(8.85\times {10}^{-13}\mathrm{J}\)

d

\(88.5\times {10}^{-13}\mathrm{J}\)

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Q20
PYQ

Intensity of sunlight is observed as \(0.092{\mathrm{Wm}}^{-2}\) at a point in free space. What will be the peak value of magnetic field at that point? \(\left({\epsilon }_{0}=8.85\times {10}^{-12}{\mathrm{C}}^{2}{\mathrm{N}}^{-1}{\mathrm{m}}^{-2}\right)\)

[JEE Main 2021, 22 Jul (Shift 2)]

a

\(5.88\mathrm{T}\)

b

\(1.96\times {10}^{-8}\mathrm{T}\)

c

\(8.31\mathrm{T}\)

d

\(2.77\times {10}^{-8}\mathrm{T}\)

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Q21
PYQ

A light beam is described by \(\mathrm{E}=800\sin \omega \left(t-\frac{x}{c}\right)\)V/m. An electron is allowed to move normal to the propagation of light beam with a speed of \(3\times {10}^{7}{\mathrm{ms}}^{-1}\). What is the maximum magnetic force exerted on the electron?

[JEE Main 2021, 26 Aug (Shift 2)]

a

\(1.28\times {10}^{-21}\mathrm{N}\)

b

\(1.28\times {10}^{-18}\mathrm{N}\)

c

\(12.8\times {10}^{-17}\mathrm{N}\)

d

\(12.8\times {10}^{-18}\mathrm{N}\)

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Q22
PYQ

For a plane electromagnetic wave propagating in \( \mathrm{x} \)-direction, which one of the following combination gives the correct possible directions for electric field (E) and magnetic field (B) respectively?

[NEET 2021]

a

\( -\hat{\mathrm{j}}+\hat{\mathrm{k}},-\hat{\mathrm{j}}-\hat{\mathrm{k}} \)

b

\( \hat{j}+\hat{k},-\hat{j}-\hat{k} \)

c

\( -\hat{j}+\hat{k},-\hat{j}+\hat{k} \)

d

\( \hat{\mathrm{j}}+\hat{\mathrm{k}}, \hat{\mathrm{j}}+\hat{\mathrm{k}} \)

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Q23
PYQ

AC voltage \(V(t)=(20\sin \omega t)\)volt of frequency \(50\mathrm{Hz}\) is applied to a parallel plate capacitor. The separation between the plates is \(2\mathrm{mm}\) and the area is \(1{\mathrm{m}}^{2}\). The amplitude of the oscillating displacement current for the applied AC voltage is [ [Take \({\epsilon }_{0}=8.85\times {10}^{-12}\mathrm{F}/\mathrm{m}\) ]

[JEE Main 2021, 20 Jul (Shift 1)]

a

\(83.37\mu \mathrm{A}\)

b

\(55.58\mu \mathrm{A}\)

c

\(21.14\mu \mathrm{A}\)

d

\(27.79\mu \mathrm{A}\)

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Q24
PYQ

The energy of an electromagnetic wave contained in a small volume oscillates with

a

Zero frequency

b

Half the frequency of the wave

c

Double the frequency of the wave

d

The frequency of the wave

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Q25
PYQ

A plane electromagnetic wave of frequency \(20\mathrm{MHz}\) propagates in free space along x-direction. At a particular space and time, \(\vec{E}=6.6\hat{j}\mathrm{V}/\mathrm{m}\). What is \(\vec{B}\) at this point?

a

\(-2.2\times {10}^{-8}\hat{i}T\)

b

\(2.2\times {10}^{-8}\hat{k}T\)

c

\(-2.2\times {10}^{-8}\hat{k}T\)

d

\(2.2\times {10}^{-8}\hat{i}T\)

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Q26
PYQ

Electric field in a plane electromagnetic wave is given by \(\mathrm{E}=50\sin \left(500x-10\times {10}^{10}t\right)\mathrm{V}/\mathrm{m}\)

The velocity of electromagnetic wave in this medium is : (Given c= speed of light in vacuum)

a

c

b

\(\frac{c}{2}\)

c

\(\frac{2}{3}c\)

d

\(\frac{3}{2}c\)

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