Question:
The unification of electromagnetism and optics is based on the discovery that
The unification of electromagnetism and optics is based on the discovery that
Show Hint
Remember: Maxwell proved that light is an electromagnetic wave, thereby unifying electromagnetism and optics.
Updated On: Jun 15, 2026
- Light is an electromagnetic wave
- Light travels with a speed equal to speed of sound
- Light wave consists of electrons
- Light waves are deflected by electric and magnetic fields
Show Solution
Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Concept:
The unification of electricity, magnetism, and optics was one of the greatest achievements in physics. This happened due to the work of :contentReference[oaicite:0]index=0 who formulated Maxwell’s equations.
These equations predicted that changing electric and magnetic fields propagate through space in the form of waves.
Step 1: Understanding Maxwell’s prediction.
Maxwell showed that electromagnetic waves travel with speed \[ c=\frac{1}{\sqrt{\mu_0\epsilon_0}} \] where \[ \mu_0=\text{permeability of free space} \] \[ \epsilon_0=\text{permittivity of free space} \]
Step 2: Comparison with speed of light.
When the numerical value was calculated, \[ c=3\times10^8\text{ ms}^{-1} \] This exactly matched the experimentally known speed of light. Thus Maxwell concluded \[ \boxed{\text{Light itself is an electromagnetic wave}} \]
Step 3: Rejecting other options.
Option B is incorrect because light speed is much larger than sound speed. Option C is incorrect because light waves are made of oscillating electric and magnetic fields, not electrons. Option D is incorrect because ordinary light is not generally deflected by electric and magnetic fields. Hence correct option is \[ \boxed{\text{Light is an electromagnetic wave}} \]
Step 1: Understanding Maxwell’s prediction.
Maxwell showed that electromagnetic waves travel with speed \[ c=\frac{1}{\sqrt{\mu_0\epsilon_0}} \] where \[ \mu_0=\text{permeability of free space} \] \[ \epsilon_0=\text{permittivity of free space} \]
Step 2: Comparison with speed of light.
When the numerical value was calculated, \[ c=3\times10^8\text{ ms}^{-1} \] This exactly matched the experimentally known speed of light. Thus Maxwell concluded \[ \boxed{\text{Light itself is an electromagnetic wave}} \]
Step 3: Rejecting other options.
Option B is incorrect because light speed is much larger than sound speed. Option C is incorrect because light waves are made of oscillating electric and magnetic fields, not electrons. Option D is incorrect because ordinary light is not generally deflected by electric and magnetic fields. Hence correct option is \[ \boxed{\text{Light is an electromagnetic wave}} \]
Was this answer helpful?
0
0
Top TS EAMCET Physics Questions
- A wooden box lying at rest on an inclined surface of a wet wood is held at static equilibrium by a constant force $F$ applied perpendicular to the incline. If the mass of the box is $1\,kg$, the angle of inclination is $30^{\circ}$ and the coefficient of static friction between the box and the inclined plane is $0.2$, the minimum magnitude of $\vec{F}$ is (Use $ g = 10\,m/s^2$)
- A metre scale made of steel reads accurately at $25^{\circ} C$ . Suppose in an experiment an accuracy of $0.06\, mm$ in $1\,m$ is required, the range of temperature in which the experiment can be performed with this metre scale is (coefficient of linear expansion of steel is $ 11 \times 10^{-6} /^{\circ} \, C$ )
- Consider a solenoid carrying current supplied by a DC source with a constant emf containing iron core inside it. When the core is pulled out of the solenoid, the change in current will
- A parallel beam of light of intensity \(I_0\) is incident on a coated glass plate. If \(25\%\) of the incident light is reflected from the upper surface and \(50\%\) of light is reflected from the lower surface of the glass plate, the ratio of maximum to minimum intensity in the interference region of the reflected light is
- A thermocol box has a total wall area (including the lid) of $1.0 m ^{2}$ and wall thickness of $3 cm$. It is filled with ice at $0^{\circ} C$. If the average temperature outside the box is $30^{\circ} C$ throughout the day, the amount of ice that melts in one day is [Use $K_{\text {thermocol }}=0.03 W / mK$ $.L_{\text {fusion (ice) }}=3.00 \times 10^{5} J / kg ]$
View More Questions
Top TS EAMCET Electromagnetic waves Questions
Electromagnetic radiation of intensity 0.6 Wn-2 is falling on a blank surface. The radiation pressure on the surface is:
- If three sources of sound of frequencies \( (n-1), n, (n+1) \) are vibrated together, the number of beats produced and heard per second respectively are:
- The ratio between electric field energy density and magnetic field energy density of an electromagnetic wave, in its region is:
- The ratio between electric field energy density and magnetic field energy density of an electromagnetic wave, in its region is:
- The efficiency of a bulb of power \( 60 \) W is \( 16\% \). The peak value of the electric field produced by the electromagnetic radiation from the bulb at a distance of \( 2 \) m from the bulb is? \[ \left(\frac{1}{4\pi \epsilon_0} = 9 \times 10^9 \text{ Nm}^2\text{C}^{-2} \right) \]
View More Questions
Top TS EAMCET Questions
- A bag contains $5$ red balls, $3$ black balls and $4$ white balls are drawn at random. The probability that they are not of same colour is
- If $cosec\, \theta - \cot \theta = 2017$, then quadrant in which $\theta $ lies is
- If $a$ is a unit vector, then $| a \times \hat{ i }|^{2}+| a \times \hat{ j }|^{2}+| a \times \hat{ k }|^{2}=$
- $A$ straight line makes an intercept on the $Y$-axis twice as long as that on $X$-axis and is at a unit distance from the origin. Then the line is represented by the equations
- Let $S$ and $S'$ be the foci of an ellipse and B be one end of its minor axis. If $SBS'$ is an isosceles right angled triangle then the eccentricity of the ellipse is
View More Questions