9.

Electricity and Magnetism

II
Griffiths Chapter 9 EM Waves
Clicker Questions

9.2

A function, f(x,t), satisfies this PDE:

2 f 1 2 f
2 2
2
x
c t

Invent two different functions f(x,t) that

solve this equation. Try to make one of
them boring and the other
interesting in some way.

9.3

i 2

e
The complex exponential,
is equal to:
A) 0

B) i

C) 1

E) Something else

i 2

D)

9.4

A function, f, satisfies the wave

2
2
equation:
f 1 f

x v2 t2
Which of the following functions work?
2

A)

Sin( k(x vt))

B)

Exp( k(-x vt ))

C) a( x + vt )3
D) All of these.
E) None of these.

9.5

A function, f, satisfies the wave

2
2
equation:
f 1 f

x v2 t2
Which of the following functions work?
2

In fact, ANY
function f ( x +/- vt )
B) Exp( k(-x vt ))
is a good solution!!
A)

Sin( k(x vt))

C) a( x + vt )3

D) All of these.
E) None of these.

Shape travels left

(+) or right (-).

9.6

A right moving solution to the wave

equation is:
fR(z,t) = A cos(kz t + )
Which of these do you prefer for a left
moving soln?
A) fL(z,t) = A cos(kz + t + )
B) fL(z,t) = A cos(kz + t - )
C) fL(z,t) = A cos(-kz t + )
D) fL(z,t) = A cos(-kz t - )
E) more than one of these!
(Assume k, , are positive quantities)
To think about; Is(are) the answer(s) really just
preference (i.e. human convention) or are we forced into
a choice?

9.7

Two different functions f1 (x,t) and f2 (x,t) are

solutions of the wave
2 equation.
2

f 1 f
2 2
2
x v t

Is (A f1 + B f2 ) also a solution of the wave

equation?
A) Yes, always
B)

No, never.

C) Yes, sometimes, depending of f1 and f2 .

9.8

Two traveling waves 1 and 2 are described

by the equations:
y1(x,t) = 2 sin(2x t)
y2(x,t) = 4 sin(x 0.8 t)
All the numbers are in the appropriate SI
(mks) units.

Which wave has the higher speed?

A) 1
B) 2
C) Both have the same
speed.

9.9

Two impulse waves are approaching each other, as

shown. Which picture correctly shows the total wave
when the two waves are passing through each other?

A)

B)

C)
D)

9.10

A solution to the wave equation is:

f(z,t) = A cos(kz t + )
What is the speed of this wave?
Which way is it moving?
If is small (and >0), is this wave delayed or
advanced?
What is the frequency?
The angular frequency?
The wavelength?
The wave number?

9.11

A solution to the wave equation is:

f(z,t) = Re[A e(kz t + )]

What is the speed of this wave?

Which way is it moving?
If is small (and >0), is this wave delayed
or advanced?
What is the frequency?
The angular frequency?
The wavelength?
The wave number?

9.12

A complex solution to the wave equation

in 3D is:

f (r, t) Ae
i(kr t)

What is the speed of this wave?

Which way is it moving?
Why is there no ?
What is the frequency?
The angular frequency?
The wavelength?
The wave number?

9.13

Is "The Wave" at the stadium a transverse wave or

a longitudinal wave?
A) Transverse
B) Longitudinal
C) neither

A wave on a stretched drum head is an example of

a
A) Transverse wave B) Longitudinal wave
C) it's not a wave at all

9.14

A solution to the wave equation is:

f(z,t) = Re[A ei(kz t + )]
If is small (and >0), is this wave delayed
or advanced compared to ei(kz t )?
A) delayed
B) advanced
C) neither, depends on values of z and t.
delayed

advanced

9.15

The electric field for a plane wave is given by:

i( kr t)

E(r,t) E0e
The vector k tells you:

A) The direction of the electric field vector.

B) The direction of the magnetic field vector.

C) The direction in which the wave is not varying.
D) The direction the plane wave moves.
E) None of these.

9.16

The electric field for a plane wave is given by:

i( kr t)

E(r,t) E0e
The vector k tells you:

A) The direction of the electric field vector.

B) The speed of the traveling wave.

C) The direction the plane wave moves.
D) A direction perpendicular to the direction the
plane wave moves
E) None of these/MORE than one of these/???

9.17

The electric field for a plane wave is given by:

i( k
r t)
E(r, t) E0 e

Suppose E0 points in the +x direction.

Which direction is this wave moving?
A) The x direction.
B) The radial (r) direction

C) A direction perpendicular to both k and x

D) The k direction
E) None of these/MORE than one of these/???

9.18

2 f 1 2 f
The 1-D wave equation is 2 2 2
x v solution
t
One particular traveling wave
to this is

f1(z,t) = A1 cos(k1z 1t + 1)
This wave has speed v = 1/k1 (do you see why?)
There are many other solutions, including f2(z,t) with the
SAME functional form, but with higher frequency,
2>1.
What can you say about the speed of that new
solution?
A) greater than v
B) less than v
C) equal to v
By
the way:
D) indeterminate!
This wave travels rightward (do you see why?)
This wave has wavelength lambda= 2/k1 (do you see
why?)
This wave has period 2 /1 (do you see why?)

9.19

2
1

f (x, y, z,t)
The 3-D wave equation is2 f (x, y, z,t) 2
v
t2

One particular traveling wave solution to this is often

written
i

i( kr t)

f1 (x, y,wave
z,t) travels
Ae
, where
Ae . (do you see
This
in
the kAdirection
why?)
This wave has wavelength lambda= 2/|k| (do
you see why?)
This wave has period 2/ (do you see why?)
This wave has speed v = /|k| (do you see
why?)is the real form of this wave?
What
A) Acos(kx t)
B) Acos(kx t )

C) Acos(kr t)
D) Acos(kr t )
E) More than one of these/other/???

9.20

A wave is moving in the +z direction:

f(x, y, z, t) = Re[A ei(kz t + )]
The value of f at the point (0,0,z0 , t) and the point
at (x, y, z0 , t) are related how?
f1 = f (0,0,z0 , t) vs. f2 = f(x, y, z0 , t)

A) f1 = f2 always
B) f1 > or < or = f2 depending on the value of x,y

f2
f1

9.21

Here is a snapshot in time of a

longitudinal wave:

The divergence of this field is:

A) Zero
B) Non-zero
C) Impossible to tell without further
information

9.22

The electric fields of two E/M waves in vacuum

are both described by:

E E0 Sin(kx t) y

The "wave number" k of wave 1 is larger than

that of wave 2, k1 > k2.

Which wave has the larger frequency f?

A) Wave 1
B) Wave 2
C) impossible to
tell

9.23

The electric field of an E/M wave is described by

E E0 Sin(kx t) y

k = 0.1 m-1, at x=1m and

t=0, what is the direction of
the B-field?
A) +x

B) +y C) x D) +z
E) -z

9.24

You have this solution to Maxwells equations in

vacuum:

E x, y, z,t E0 exp i ki r t

If this wave travels in the y direction, is polarized in

the x direction, and has a complex phase of 0,
what is the x component of the physical wave?
A) Ex E0 cos(kx t)

B) Ex E0 cos(ky t)

C) Ex E0 cos(kz t)

D) Ex E0 cos(kxx ky y t)

E) Other!!

To think about: What is the y component?

What would change if the complex phase of E0 was 900? -900?

9.25

Think about
the first of Maxwells Equations (Gausss
Law) in vacuum:
i E 0
Try a complex exponential linearly polarized plane
wave:

E x, y, z,t

Then, Gausss Law becomes:

A) iki E0 0

B) k E0 0

E) None of these.
What does this mean, in words?

C) ik E0 0

D) ik E0 0

9.26

Given the wave solutions

E x, y, z,t

What does Faradays law

us?

A)

tell

9.27

An electromagnetic plane wave propagates to the

right.
Four vertical antennas are labeled 1-4.
1,2, and 3 lie in the x-y plane.
1,2, and 4 have the same x-coordinate, but antenna 4
is located further out in the z-direction.
Rank
the time-averaged
signals received
by each
A)1=2=3>4
B) 3>2>1=4
C) 1=2=4>3
antenna.
D) 1=2=3=4
E) 3>1=2=4
y

3
z

9.28

D2L

9.29

9.30

Eye

A plan wave approaches the eye and some of the light

rays in the wave enter the eye's pupil. No other rays
enter the eye. What does the eye see?
A) A single point of light, surrounded by blackness.
B) A uniformly illuminated wall of light, like a white wall.
C) Many scattered points of light, like stars in the night
sky.
D) None of these

9.31

A point source of radiation emits power Po

isotropically (uniformly in all directions). A detector of
area ad is located a distance R away from the
source. What is the power p received by the
detector?
A)
B)
C)
D)

Po
a
2 d
4R

a 2d
Po 2
R
a
Po d
R
Po
ad
2
R

E) None of these

Po

detector
ad

9.32

For a plane electromagnetic wave in vacuum:

i( k
E k
r t)
E(r, t) E0 e
E
B k
E B
E, B in phase
k
B
B = E/c
Which of Maxwells equations requires that B

A) E / 0
B) B 0

B

E
C) E
D) B 0 j 00
t
t

k?

Which of Maxwells equations requires that B = E/c ?

9.33

Two radio dishes (shaped like bowls) are receiving signals from a radio station
which is sending out radio waves in all directions with power P. Dish 2 is twice
as far away as Dish 1, but has twice the diameter. Which dish receives more
power? (Dish 2 is not in the shadow of Dish 1.)
A: Dish 1
B: Dish 2
C: Both receive the same power

Dish 1

Dish 2

9.34

A parabolic dish focuses the EM radiation from a

source into a beam of constant diameter D :
The intensity of the light in the beam falls with
distance R as:
A) I ~ 1/R2
B) I ~ 1/R
C) I = constant
D) Something else
D
c

9.35

When a jet flies faster than the speed of sound, there

is...
A) a sonic boom occurring only at the moment that
the jet exceeds the speed of sound.
B) a continuous sonic booming occurring all the time
that the jet is going faster than Mach 1.

9.36

D 0 E P E
In linear dielectrics,
In a linear dielectric is 0 ?
A) Yes always. B) No, never.
C) Sometimes yes, sometimes
no. Depends on details of
the dielectric.

9.37

In a non-magnetic, linear
dielectric, 1
1
v wave v

0 r 0

How does v compare to c?

A) v > c always
B) v < c always
C) v > or < c depending on

c
r

9.38

A plane wave normally incident on an interface

between 2 linear (non-magnetic) dielectrics (n 1 n2)
EI

v1

BI

ER

E I E 0I exp i k1z 1t
E R E 0R exp i k1z 1t

ET

BR

v1

v2

BT

E T E 0T exp i k 2z 2 t

How do k1 and k2 compare? How do 1 and

2compare?
A) k1=k2, 1=2
B) k1 k2, 1 2
C) k1 = k2, 1 2 D) k1 k2, 1 = 2

9.39

For an electric plane wave given by

i(krt)

E E0e

e magnetic field is required by Faradays law to be

i(krt)

B B0e

where

B0 (k E0)/

hich of the following is true at a particular point in space?

A. The E and B fields are at maximum value at the
same time

B. The B field maximum lags the E field by a quarter

period
C. The B field maximum leads the E field by a quarter
period
D. The E and B field maxima are exactly a half period
apart
E. Not enough information to tell

9.40

Wave on a 1D string, hitting a boundary between 2 strings of

different
speeds:

A ei(k1z t) A ei(k1z t)
I
R

(z<0)

i(k z t)
A T e 2

(z>0)

Boundary conditions
(continuity)
give the results:

A k1 k2 A ,
R
I
k k

1
2

A 2k1 A
T
I
k k

1
2

the transmitted wave in phase with the incident wave?

Yes, always B) No, never C) Depends
Why? How do you decide?

9.41

Wave on a 1D string, hitting a boundary between 2 strings of

different
speeds:

A ei(k1z t) A ei(k1z t)
I
R

(z<0)

i(k z t)
A T e 2

(z>0)

Boundary conditions
(continuity)
give the results:

A k1 k2 A ,
R
I
k k

1
2

A 2k1 A
T
I
k k

1
2

s the reflected wave in phase with the incident wave?

A) Yes, always B) No, never C) Depends
Why? How do you decide?

9.42

Below is an idealized picture of a traveling EM plane

wave.
It is a snapshot at t=0. (Wavelength is given, as is
E0.)
Write down a pair of mathematical formulae which
y
describe
this wave (in complex form) for all times.

(OneE0for E and
E B)
x
z

X=

9.43

With spatially varying (r), plane EM waves

of the form,

E x, y, z,t E0 exp i kxx ky y kz z t

B x, y, z,t B0 exp i kxx ky y kz z t

are:

A) No longer good solutions to Maxwells

Eqs.
B) No longer have the same
C) Are unchanged from the vacuum case.
D) Are no longer transverse.
E) None of the above.

9.44

n matter, we have

D F

B 0

B
E
t

D
B JF
t

D = 0E P

H = B/0 M

f there are no free charges or currents, can we argue

E 0 ?

A)
B)
C)
D)

Yes, always
Yes, under certain conditions (what are they?)
No, in general this will NOT be true!
??

9.45

In matter with
no free charges
or currents,
we have:

i) D 0

ii) B 0

B
iii) E
t

D
iv) H
t

To figure out formulas for boundary

conditions,
match the picture to the PDE(s) above.
A) Fig 1 goes with i and iii
Fig 2 goes with ii and iv

Fig 2
Fig 1

(i.e. the ones involving D and E),

( B and H)

B) Fig 1 goes with i and ii

( div),
Fig 2 goes with iii and iv ( curl)
C) Fig 1 goes with ii only
Fig 2 goes with iii only
D) Something else!

( B field),
( E field)

E) Frankly, I dont really understand this question.

9.46

i) D 0

ii) B 0

B
iii) E
t

D
iv) H
t

1) B1 =B2

2)
E
=E

1
2

//
//
3)
B
=B
1
2

4) E// =E//
1
2

Match the Maxwell equation (i-iv) in matter (no free

charges) with the corresponding boundary condition
(1-4) it generates:
A) i 4, ii 3 iii 2 iv 1
B) i 2, ii 1 iii 4 iv 3
C) Wait, only SOME of the BCs on the right are
correct!
D) Wait, NONE of the BCs on the right are correct!
E) Frankly, I dont really understand this question.

Region 1

Region 2

9.47

i) D 0

ii) B 0

B
iii) E
t

D
iv) H
t

1) B1 =B2

2)

E
=

1 1
2 2

//
//
3)
B
/

=B
/ 2
1
1

4) E// =E//
1
2

(For linear materials)

Match the Maxwell equation (i-iv) in matter (no free

charges) with the corresponding boundary condition
(1-4) it generates:
B) i 2, ii 1

iii 4

iv 3

Region 1

Region 2

9.48

An EM plane wave in free space

comes from the left towards an
interface. Which statement is true?
A) Only certain frequencies are allowed.
B) You are free to choose the wave speed.
C) A compensating wave must travel
towards the interface from the right too.
D) You may independently select the
frequency and the k-vector.
E) None of the above.

9.49

An EM plane wave in free space

comes from the left towards an
interface. Which statement is true?
A) Only certain wave speeds are allowed.
B) You are free to choose k.
C) A reflected wave on the left and a transmitted
wave on the right may travel away from the
interface too.
D) All of the above.
E) None of the above.

9.50

For linear materials, we found that the index of refraction n is

given by:

n (1 E )(1 M )

Can n be less than one?

A. Yes
B. No

9.51

For our reflected and transmitted waves, how many unknowns

have we introduced?
i(kR z R t)

ER E 0Re
n R
i(kT z T t)

ET E 0T e
n T

A. 2
B. 4
C. 8
D. 12
E. None of the above

9.52

For our reflected and transmitted waves, how many unknowns

have we introduced?
i( kI z I t)

E R E0 Re
nI
i(kT z I t)

ET E0T e
nI

A. 2
B. 4
C. 8
D. 12
E. None of the above

9.53

An EM plane wave comes from the left towards an

interface. Reflected and transmitted waves leave.
Therefore, the total
E-fieldislike:

i kI i r I t i kR i r Rt
E1 EI e
ER e

i kT i r
T t
E2 ET e

(region 1)
(region 2)

A) True.
B) False.
C) Dont understand and have
questions
D) Too confused for questions...

9.54

An EM plane wave comes from the left towards

an interface. Reflected and transmitted waves
leave. Therefore, at the interface we expect to
match the waves with something like:

? e

i k i r t
I

?e

i k i r t
R

?e

i k i r t
T

A) No. This type of condition cannot

work.
B) No. This is mathematically
possible, but
physically incorrect.
C) Ah, therefore I see a necessary
condition
D) None of these.

9.55

A EM plane wave comes from the left.

Reflected and transmitted waves leave.
Therefore, at the interface we expect to
match the waves with something like:

? e

i k i r t
I

i k i r t
R

?e
at the interface,

A) k
r 0
I i
B) k
r kI ,Y y kI ,Z z
I i
C) kI i r kI ,X x
D) None of these.

?e

i k i r t
T

9.56

Do plane waves in matter (see above) represent

general solutions of Maxwells Equations?

A) Yes! Fixed k-vector and frequency

are predicted via Fourier
superposition.
B) No. In some cases you would need
complex k-vectors, which is
unphysical.
C) No. In some cases you would need
frequency dependent or. Then
plane waves dont work.
D) No. In spatially varying material,
you might need non-transverse
plane waves and thats unphysical.

9.57

In matter without any free charge density, I can conclude that

A. Divergence of D and E are zero
B. Divergence of D is zero and divergence of E may be
zero
C. Divergence of D and E are not zero
D. Divergence of D may be zero and divergence E is
zero
E. Not enough information to tell

9.58

In the case where medium 1 had a very slow wave velocity and
medium 2 had a much higher wave velocity, 2v2 >> 1v1. Assuming
that the permeabilities (s) are essentially equal to the permeability
of the vacuum, what is the relation between 1 and 2?

A. 1 2
B. 1 > 2
C. 1 < 2
D. Not enough information to tell

9.59

i(kR z R t)

ER E 0Re
n R
i(kT z T t)

ET E 0T e
n T

For our reflected and transmitted waves, we found that

R=T=I. What can we now conclude about the wavelengths of
the transmitted and reflected waves?

A. = =
R

B. R=TI
C. RT=I
D. R=IT
E. Need more information

9.60

1) B1 =B2

2)

E
=

1 1
2 2

//
//
3)
B
/

=B
/ 2
1
1

4) E// =E//
1
2

For light at normal incidence, we

found:
2

(n1 n2 )
R=
,
2
(n1 n2 )

4n1n2
T=
(n1 n2 )2

(For linear materials)

What gives a large transmission of light at normal
incidence?
A)When v1>>v2
B)When v2>>v1
C)When v is very different in the two media
D)When v is nearly the same in the two media
E) None of these/other/Im confused/

9.61

For an electric plane wave given by

i(kr t)
E E0e

The contribution from the E field to the (real) energy

density uEM is
A.
B.
C.
D.

2
1
2 0 (E)

2
1
2 0 Re{(E) }

2
1
2 0 (Re{E})
2

1
1

E
=
2 0
2 0 E

E. More than one of the above is true

9.62

ei(kr t) E ei(kr t )n
For an electric plane wave given by E E
0
0
1
The Poynting vector is given by
S EB

(And, v2

2
So, S vE cos (kr t ) v[Re( E)]
2
0

1
2
I=< S> vE 0
2

v E
2

(Surprise?! Its not ~[Re(E)]^2 !)

9.63

An ideal (large) capacitor has surface charge

density + on its top plate and on its bottom
plate. There is only vacuum between the plates.
What is E inside the capacitor ?
+

z
A) E = /
B) E = -/
C) E = /2

D) E = -/2
None of the above

9.64

An ideal (large) capacitor has surface charge density +

on its top plate and on its bottom plate. Now a linear
dielectric with permittivity is inserted between the
plates.
How does E inside the dielectric compare with the case
with no dielectric?
+

A) E is smaller
B) E is the same
C) E is larger
D) Depends on the of the dielectric
Not enough information to tell

9.65

In the case where medium 1 had a very slow wave velocity and
medium 2 had a much higher wave velocity, we found that R1
and T0. In the opposite case, where the wave velocity in
medium 1 is much higher than that in 2, we expect

A.
B.
C.
D.

R1, T0
R0, T1
R1/2, T1/2
Not enough information to tell

9.66

1) B1 =B2

2)

E
=

1 1
2 2

//
//
3)
B
/

=B
/ 2
1
1

4) E// =E//
1
2

E E
0R
0I

E 2 E
0T
0I

where

(For linear materials)

What is the relative phase angle between the incident
wave and the transmitted wave?
A. 0
B. 90
C. 180
D. Can be more than one of the above
E. Depends on the incident angle and dielectric
properties

9.67

reduce glare off the lake, should the polarization axis of these sunglasses be
Vertical
B) Horizontal
C) Makes no difference
D) ????

9.69

The power/m2 passing

Here is <S>

What is the power/m2 striking the boundary wall?

A) Still <S>
B) <S> cos1
C) <S> /cos1
D) Something else! (sin1 or cos21 or cos2, or )

9.70

Our general solution for the transmitted

wave is

E (r, t) E ei(k2 r t)
T
0T

Snells law tells us n1 sin 1 n2 sin 2

If n2 < n1, there is a critical angle,
sin 1,C n2 / n1

beyond which there is no real solution for 2.

How should we interpret this lack of solution physically?

9.71

i(k r t)
E T (r, t) E 0T e 2

If we are pigheaded, we can proceed with cos2

imaginary,
sox (imaginary)* z
k r (real)*
2

Can we interpret this?

x
z

9.72

The square root of a + bi is

A)

ai b

B)

a2 b2

C)

a2 b2 +i 2ab

D. It is not defined
E. Something else (this is harder than it looks)

9.73

We have a traveling wave solution satisfies

r, t) E 0 ei(k z t)
E(

where the (complex) wave vector

k 2 2 i ( )

True (A) or False (B): This traveling wave is transverse.

Or C) I have no good idea what that means)

9.74

The magnetic field amplitude in a metal associated with a linearly

polarized electric EM wave is

B kR ikIm E
0

True (A) or False (B):The B field is in phase with the E field

(C) It depends!

9.75

The magnetic field amplitude in a highly conductive metal

(>>) associated with a linearly polarized electric EM wave is

1 i
E0
2
1 i E 0

0 2 c

B 0

True (A) or False (B): The B field is in phase with the E field.

C) It depends!

9.76

For a good conductor,

B 0 (...)ei / 4 E 0

s the B field

) Leading

he E field.

B) Lagging

C) Matching

D) It depends!

9.77

If Ex(x,y,z,t)=E0 exp[i (kz-t)], and you have a free charge q

which responds to this E field, (F=qE)
what can you say about the relative phase of
v(t) and E(t) at any point in space?
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

They are in phase

They are 90 out of phase
They are 180 out of phase
I dont really know what this means
Something else

9.78

The Fresnel equation (for normal incidence) is

E n1 n2 E
0R
0I
n n

1
2

region 2 is a conductor, n2 = (c/) k2 is complex!

ut, recall that for a good conductor, /kR << c.

What do you conclude?
A) E 0 R E 0 I
B) E 0 R E 0 I
C) E 0 R 0

) Something more complicated (literally, complex!)

) ???

9.79

Using what you know about conduction in a metal, estimate the

order of magnitude of the average time between collisions of
electrons with the lattice of metal ions. The typical electron speed in
a metal is around 106 m/s.

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

10-10 s
10-13 s
10-16 s
10-19 s
Note sure how to estimate this

9.80

From last class: If you model a dielectric as

charges on springs (with damping) a
traveling EM wave will drive those charges,
resulting in polarized molecules.
If x(t)=displacement of charge q, and N =
molecules/volume, what is the volume
polarization, P?
A) P x(t)
B) P qx(t)
C) P Nx(t)

D) P Nq x(t)

E) Something else!?

9.81

r
r
E
2
E = 2 ,
t
r r i(kz t)
E= E e
2

n ck/
The index of refraction is

1) What does it mean if n is complex?

2) What does it mean if n depends on ?

9.82

Fourier tells us that we can write a pulse

by summing up sinusoidal functions:
f(x)

f (x)

a(k)eikx dk

i(k(x vt)) dk
a(k)e
If you were to compute

(with v a known constant)

what would that give?
A) f (x)

B) f (vt)

D) Something complicated!
E) ???

C) f (x vt)

9.83

Fourier tells us that we can write a pulse

by summing up sinusoidal functions:
f(x)

f (x)

a(k)eikx dk

were to compute

i(k(x v(k)t)) dk
a(k)e

would that give?

A) f (x)

B) f (vt)

D) Something complicated!
E) ???

C) f (x vt)

9.84

Summary of last class: dispersion in a dilute dielectric:

Step1: Incoming Eext polarizes electrons, so use Newtons
law (with qEext e-it driver) to solve for x(t) of the
electron.
Step 2: Compute the polarization density (p=qx, then
P=Np)(summing over different possible electron states)
Step 3: Use D=0E+P (always), and D=E (if linear), to
extract . Done! We have (and thus n) for this material.
In which step did we assume the material was
dilute?
A)Step 1
B) Step 2
C) Step 3
D) More than
1 step
E) Never! The result is quite general for this chargedspring model

9.85

For our atomic model of permittivity we found to be

Nq2
fi
0 1

m ( 2 2 ) i

n k

We also know
c
i)

Find (and simplify) a formula for n, assuming the

term adding to 1 above is small.

ii) In that limit, find kR and kIm.

What does each one tell you, physically?
iii) Sketch both of these as functions of (assuming
that only one term in that sum dominates)
(Under what condition on should one term in that sum
dominate?)

9.86

For our atomic model of permittivity we found the absorption

coefficient to be:
2 2

Nq

mc 0

n the limit of large ,

A. Goes to zero
B. Approaches a constant
C. Goes to infinity
D. I dont know!

fi i
( 2 2 )2 2 2
i
i
i

9.87

For our atomic model of permittivity we found the absorption

coefficient to be:
2 2

Nq

mc 0

fi i
( 2 2 )2 2 2
i
i
i

In the limit of no damping, absorption

A. Goes to zero
B. Approaches a constant
C. Goes to infinity
D. Other, (its not so simple).
E. I dont know!

9.88

Waveguides
The following questions are from Ed
Kinneys Sp11 E&M II course
Waveguides were not covered in
Fa11 or Sp12 at CU

9.89

What is the electric field in a perfect conductor if an EM wave is

incident on the surface?
A. Zero
B. Depends on the angle of incidence
C. Depends on whether the EM wave is in a dielectric or
vacuum
D. Perfectly in phase with the incident wave but
decreasing with distance into the conductor
E. Not enough information to say

9.90

What is the magnetic field in a perfect conductor if an EM wave is

incident on the surface?

A. Zero
B. Depends on the angle of incidence
C. Depends on whether the EM wave is in a dielectric or
vacuum
D. Out of phase with the incident wave and decreasing
with distance into the conductor
E. Not enough information to say

9.91

Which of Maxwells equations, when applied to regular plane wave

solutions
i(krt)
0

E(r,t)=E e

required that the electric field was transverse?

A. Gauss Law for the electric field

B. Gauss Law for the magnetic field
C. Faradays Law
D. Amperes Law
E. More than one Maxwell equation was required

9.92

The separation of variables technique gives us 2 ODEs of the

form
2

dX
2

c
X
2
dx

On what basis can we determine whether to use a

positive or a negative separation constant c2?

A. It doesnt matter which we choose, either choice will

work
B. The wave equation itself determines the signs
C. The boundary conditions at the walls determine the
signs
D. None of the above
E. More than one of the above

9.93

For TEmn modes we found the general dispersion relation

1
2
k
2 m
n
c

with

2
mn

cm cn

a b

For the case a = 2b, waves with = 1.01c/b are input

to the waveguide. Which TE
mn modes can be used to
transport the input wave?
A. Only TE10
B. All modes, except TE10 and TE01
C. Only TE10 and TE01
D. None of the above
E. Not enough information

9.94

For TEmn modes we found the general dispersion relation

1
2
k
2 m
n
c

with

2
mn

cm cn

a b

What is the phase velocity of the waves in the

waveguide?

A. mn/k
B. /k
C. c
D. 2 m2 n /k
E. None of the above

9.95

For TEmn modes we found the general dispersion relation

1
2
k
2 m
n
c

with

2
mn

cm cn

a b

How does the wavelength a TE mode compare to that of

a plane wave in vacuum with
the same frequency?
A. The TE mode wavelength is larger than the plane
waves.
B. The TE mode wavelength is smaller than the plane
waves.
C. The TE mode wavelength is the same as the plane
waves.
D. The answer depends on the actual value of the