1. Home
  2. College physics
  3. Electromagnetic waves
  4. Energy in electromagnetic waves

24.4 Energy in electromagnetic waves  (Page 2/6)

<< Chapter < Page
  College physics     Page 2 / 6
Chapter >> Page >
I ave = cB 0 2 2μ 0 , size 12{I rSub { size 8{"ave"} } = { { ital "cB" rSub { size 8{0} } rSup { size 8{2} } } over {2μ rSub { size 8{0} } } } } {}

where B 0 size 12{B rSub { size 8{0} } } {} is the maximum magnetic field strength.

One more expression for I ave size 12{I rSub { size 8{"ave"} } } {} in terms of both electric and magnetic field strengths is useful. Substituting the fact that c ⋅ B 0 = E 0 size 12{c cdot B rSub { size 8{0} } =E rSub { size 8{0} } } {} , the previous expression becomes

I ave = E 0 B 0 2μ 0 . size 12{I rSub { size 8{"ave"} } = { {E rSub { size 8{0} } B rSub { size 8{0} } } over {2μ rSub { size 8{0} } } } } {}

Whichever of the three preceding equations is most convenient can be used, since they are really just different versions of the same principle: Energy in a wave is related to amplitude squared. Furthermore, since these equations are based on the assumption that the electromagnetic waves are sinusoidal, peak intensity is twice the average; that is, I 0 = 2 I ave size 12{I rSub { size 8{0} } =2I rSub { size 8{"ave"} } } {} .

Calculate microwave intensities and fields

On its highest power setting, a certain microwave oven projects 1.00 kW of microwaves onto a 30.0 by 40.0 cm area. (a) What is the intensity in W/m 2 size 12{"W/m" rSup { size 8{2} } } {} ? (b) Calculate the peak electric field strength E 0 size 12{E rSub { size 8{0} } } {} in these waves. (c) What is the peak magnetic field strength B 0 size 12{B rSub { size 8{0} } } {} ?

Strategy

In part (a), we can find intensity from its definition as power per unit area. Once the intensity is known, we can use the equations below to find the field strengths asked for in parts (b) and (c).

Solution for (a)

Entering the given power into the definition of intensity, and noting the area is 0.300 by 0.400 m, yields

I = P A = 1 . 00 kW 0 . 300 m × 0 . 400 m . size 12{I= { {P} over {A} } = { {1 "." "00"" kW"} over {0 "." "300 m"×0 "." "400 m"} } } {}

Here I = I ave size 12{I=I rSub { size 8{"ave"} } } {} , so that

I ave = 1000 W 0 . 120 m 2 = 8 . 33 × 10 3 W/m 2 . size 12{I rSub { size 8{"ave"} } = { {"1000"" W"} over {0 "." "120"" m" rSup { size 8{2} } } } =8 "." "33"×"10" rSup { size 8{3} } " W/m" rSup { size 8{2} } } {}

Note that the peak intensity is twice the average:

I 0 = 2 I ave = 1 . 67 × 10 4 W / m 2 . size 12{I rSub { size 8{0} } =2I rSub { size 8{"ave"} } =1 "." "67" times "10" rSup { size 8{4} } {W} slash {m rSup { size 8{2} } } } {}

Solution for (b)

To find E 0 size 12{E rSub { size 8{0} } } {} , we can rearrange the first equation given above for I ave size 12{I rSub { size 8{"ave"} } } {} to give

E 0 = 2 I ave cε 0 1/2 . size 12{E rSub { size 8{0} } = left ( { {2I rSub { size 8{"ave"} } } over {ce rSub { size 8{0} } } } right ) rSup { size 8{ {1}wideslash {2} } } } {}

Entering known values gives

E 0 = 2 ( 8 . 33 × 10 3 W/m 2 ) ( 3 . 00 × 10 8 m/s ) ( 8.85 × 10 – 12 C 2 / N ⋅ m 2 ) = 2.51 × 10 3 V/m . alignl { stack { size 12{E rSub { size 8{0} } = sqrt { { {2 \( 8 "." "33"´"10" rSup { size 8{3} } " W/m" rSup { size 8{2} } \) } over { \( 3 "." "00"´"10" rSup { size 8{8} } " m/s" \) \( 8 "." "85"´"10" rSup { size 8{ +- 2} } C rSup { size 8{2} } /N cdot m rSup { size 8{2} } \) } } } } {} #=2 "." "51"´"10" rSup { size 8{3} } " V/m" "." {} } } {}

Solution for (c)

Perhaps the easiest way to find magnetic field strength, now that the electric field strength is known, is to use the relationship given by

B 0 = E 0 c . size 12{B rSub { size 8{0} } = { {E rSub { size 8{0} } } over {c} } } {}

Entering known values gives

B 0 = 2.51 × 10 3 V/m 3.0 × 10 8 m/s = 8.35 × 10 − 6 T . alignl { stack { size 12{B rSub { size 8{0} } = { {2 "." "51"´"10" rSup { size 8{3} } " V/m"} over {3 "." 0´"10" rSup { size 8{8} } " m/s"} } } {} #=8 "." "35"´"10" rSup { size 8{-6} } " T" "." {} } } {}

Discussion

As before, a relatively strong electric field is accompanied by a relatively weak magnetic field in an electromagnetic wave, since B = E / c size 12{B= {E} slash {c} } {} , and c size 12{c} {} is a large number.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Section summary

  • The energy carried by any wave is proportional to its amplitude squared. For electromagnetic waves, this means intensity can be expressed as
    I ave = cε 0 E 0 2 2 , size 12{I rSub { size 8{"ave"} } = { {ce rSub { size 8{0} } E rSub { size 8{0} } rSup { size 8{2} } } over {2} } } {}

    where I ave size 12{I rSub { size 8{"ave"} } } {} is the average intensity in W/m 2 size 12{"W/m" rSup { size 8{2} } } {} , and E 0 size 12{E rSub { size 8{0} } } {} is the maximum electric field strength of a continuous sinusoidal wave.

  • This can also be expressed in terms of the maximum magnetic field strength B 0 size 12{B rSub { size 8{0} } } {} as
    I ave = cB 0 2 2μ 0 size 12{I rSub { size 8{"ave"} } = { { ital "cB" rSub { size 8{0} } rSup { size 8{2} } } over {2m rSub { size 8{0} } } } } {}

    and in terms of both electric and magnetic fields as

    I ave = E 0 B 0 2μ 0 . size 12{I rSub { size 8{"ave"} } = { {E rSub { size 8{0} } B rSub { size 8{0} } } over {2m rSub { size 8{0} } } } } {}
  • The three expressions for I ave size 12{I rSub { size 8{"ave"} } } {} are all equivalent.

Problems&Exercises

What is the intensity of an electromagnetic wave with a peak electric field strength of 125 V/m?

I = cε 0 E 0 2 2 = 3.00 × 10 8 m/s 8.85 × 10 –12 C 2 /N ⋅ m 2 1 25 V/m 2 2 = 20. 7 W/m 2

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Find the intensity of an electromagnetic wave having a peak magnetic field strength of 4 . 00 × 10 − 9 T size 12{4 "." "00"´"10" rSup { size 8{-9} } " T"} {} .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Assume the helium-neon lasers commonly used in student physics laboratories have power outputs of 0.250 mW. (a) If such a laser beam is projected onto a circular spot 1.00 mm in diameter, what is its intensity? (b) Find the peak magnetic field strength. (c) Find the peak electric field strength.

(a) I = P A = P π r 2 = 0 . 250 × 10 − 3 W π 0 . 500 × 10 − 3 m 2 = 318 W/m 2 size 12{I= { {P} over {A} } = { {P} over {p r rSup { size 8{2} } } } = { {0 "." "250"´"10" rSup { size 8{-3} } " W"} over {∂ left (0 "." "500"´"10" rSup { size 8{-3} } " m" right ) rSup { size 8{2} } } } ="318 W/m" rSup { size 8{2} } } {}

(b) I ave = cB 0 2 2μ 0 ⇒ B 0 = 2μ 0 I c 1 / 2 = 2 4 π × 10 − 7 T ⋅ m/A 318 . 3 W/m 2 3.00 × 10 8 m/s 1 / 2 = 1 . 63 × 10 − 6 T alignl { stack { size 12{I rSub { size 8{"ave"} } = { { ital "cB" rSub { size 8{0} rSup { size 8{2} } } } over {2m rSub { size 8{0} } } } drarrow B rSub { size 8{0} } = left ( { {2m rSub { size 8{0} } I} over {c} } right ) rSup { size 8{1/2} } } {} #= left [ { {2 left (4¶´"10" rSup { size 8{-7} } " T" cdot "m/A" right ) left ("318" "." "3 W/m" rSup { size 8{2} } right )} over {3 "." "00"´"10" rSup { size 8{8} } " m/s"} } right ] rSup { size 8{ {1} slash {2} } } {} #= {underline {1 "." "63"´"10" rSup { size 8{-6} } " T"}} {} } } {}

(c) E 0 = cB 0 = 3 .00 × 10 8 m/s 1.633 × 10 − 6 T = 4 . 90 × 10 2 V/m alignl { stack { size 12{E rSub { size 8{0} } = ital "cB" rSub { size 8{0} } = left (3 "." "00"´"10" rSup { size 8{8} } " m/s" right ) left (1 "." "633"´"10" rSup { size 8{-6} } " T" right )} {} #= {underline {4 "." "90"´"10" rSup { size 8{2} } " V/m"}} {} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Questions & Answers

how to study physic and understand
Ewa Reply
what is conservative force with examples
Moses
what is work
Fredrick Reply
the transfer of energy by a force that causes an object to be displaced; the product of the component of the force in the direction of the displacement and the magnitude of the displacement
AI-Robot
why is it from light to gravity
Esther Reply
difference between model and theory
Esther
Is the ship moving at a constant velocity?
Kamogelo Reply
The full note of modern physics
aluet Reply
introduction to applications of nuclear physics
aluet Reply
the explanation is not in full details
Moses Reply
I need more explanation or all about kinematics
Moses
yes
zephaniah
I need more explanation or all about nuclear physics
aluet
Show that the equal masses particles emarge from collision at right angle by making explicit used of fact that momentum is a vector quantity
Muhammad Reply
yh
Isaac
A wave is described by the function D(x,t)=(1.6cm) sin[(1.2cm^-1(x+6.8cm/st] what are:a.Amplitude b. wavelength c. wave number d. frequency e. period f. velocity of speed.
Majok Reply
what is frontier of physics
Somto Reply
A body is projected upward at an angle 45° 18minutes with the horizontal with an initial speed of 40km per second. In hoe many seconds will the body reach the ground then how far from the point of projection will it strike. At what angle will the horizontal will strike
Gufraan Reply
Suppose hydrogen and oxygen are diffusing through air. A small amount of each is released simultaneously. How much time passes before the hydrogen is 1.00 s ahead of the oxygen? Such differences in arrival times are used as an analytical tool in gas chromatography.
Ezekiel Reply
please explain
Samuel
what's the definition of physics
Mobolaji Reply
what is physics
Nangun Reply
the science concerned with describing the interactions of energy, matter, space, and time; it is especially interested in what fundamental mechanisms underlie every phenomenon
AI-Robot
what is isotopes
Nangun Reply
nuclei having the same Z and different N s
AI-Robot
<< Chapter < Page Page > Chapter >>
Practice Key Terms 2

Read also:

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, College physics. OpenStax CNX. Jul 27, 2015 Download for free at http://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11406/1.9
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'College physics' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask