College Physics (4th Edition)

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 0073512141
ISBN 13: 978-0-07351-214-3

Chapter 22 - Conceptual Questions - Page 861: 9

Answer

As the EM wave travels in the +x-direction, the magnetic field oscillates horizontally along the z-axis, and the electric field oscillates vertically along the y-axis.

Work Step by Step

As the EM wave travels in the +x-direction, the magnetic field oscillates horizontally along the z-axis. The electric field is perpendicular to the magnetic field and perpendicular to the direction of motion of the wave. Therefore, the electric field oscillates vertically along the y-axis.
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