Case study·Standard multi-step (3/5)·No calculator
Difficulty guide
The label describes the problem, not your ability.
1/5 - Foundational
Warm-up setup; checks one basic idea.
2/5 - Routine exam skill
Normal syllabus skill; usually one main rule or interpretation.
3/5 - Standard multi-step
Exam-style problem with multiple steps or a common trap.
4/5 - Hard exam skill
High-end exam problem; combines methods carefully.
5/5 - Challenge
Stretch problem beyond normal exam pressure.
Question
A detector records a plane electromagnetic wave. At one instant, the electric field is upward and the magnetic field is toward the east. The wave is known to be travelling horizontally.
Total: 3 marks
(a) What rule gives the direction of propagation? (1 mark)
(b) Is the wave direction parallel to either field? (1 mark)
(c) What does this tell you about the type of wave? (1 mark)
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