NCERT solutions for class 12 physics chapter 8 Electromagnetic Waves

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Vishal kumarUpdated on 09 Feb 2026, 04:53 AM IST

Have you ever wondered how your mobile phone can pick up signals over a long distance or how sunlight makes its way in space to reach the earth? The solution to this can be found in electromagnetic waves, which were discussed in Chapter 8 of Class 12 Physics - Electromagnetic Waves. This chapter describes the nature, properties, electromagnetic spectrum and their applications in the real world.

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NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Physics Chapter 8 - Electromagnetic Waves: Download PDF
Class 12 Physics Chapter 8 - Electromagnetic Waves: Exercise Questions
Class 12 Physics Chapter 8 - Electromagnetic Waves: Additional Questions
Class 12 Physics Chapter 8 - Electromagnetic Waves: Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) Questions
Class 12 Physics Chapter 8 - Electromagnetic Waves: Topics
Class 12 Physics Chapter 8 - Electromagnetic Waves: Important Formulae
How Can NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Physics Chapter 8 Help in Exam Preparation?
Approach to Solve Questions of Class 12 Physics Chapter 8 - Electromagnetic Waves
Importance of NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Physics Chapter 8: Electromagnetic Waves
What Students Learn from NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics Chapter 8: Electromagnetic Waves?
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NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Physics Chapter-Wise
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Electromagnetic Wave Solutions

NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Physics Chapter 8 - Electromagnetic Waves present these concepts in a clear, simple, and step-by-step manner for better understanding. These NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Physics Chapter 8 - Electromagnetic Waves are prepared by highly qualified experts in the subject according to the current CBSE Class 12 Physics syllabus and can enable the students to learn key topics very fast and at the same time understand them best. These NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Physics Chapter 8 provide detailed answers to NCERT questions in the form of exercises, other practice questions, and concept explanations, thus very practical in enhancing fundamentals and exam results. NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Physics Chapter 8 are an excellent resource for CBSE board exam preparation as well as competitive exams like JEE and NEET, where conceptual clarity is essential.

NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Physics Chapter 8 - Electromagnetic Waves: Download PDF

The Class 12 Physics Chapter 8 - Electromagnetic Waves question answers help students gain a clear understanding of the concepts and reinforce their knowledge by giving out detailed and stepwise answers to all the questions present in the chapter. The Class 12 physics chapter 8 Electromagnetic Waves question answers are crafted according to the new NCERT syllabus and are also very beneficial in preparation for the board exams and competitive exams like JEE and NEET. You may as well download the free PDF to read continuously and revise successfully.

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Class 12 Physics Chapter 8 - Electromagnetic Waves: Exercise Questions

Electromagnetic Waves class 12 question answers of textbook exercises offer detailed and easy-to-understand answers to all in-text and exercise problems. These Electromagnetic Waves class 12 question answers help students grasp key concepts, practice effectively, and prepare confidently for board exams and competitive tests like JEE and NEET.

1.(a) Figure 8.5 shows a capacitor made of two circular plates, each of radius 12 cm, and separated by 5.0 cm. The capacitor is being charged by an external source (not shown in the figure). The charging current is constant and equal to 0.15A.

Calculate the capacitance and the rate of change of potential difference between the plates.

Answer:

Radius of the discs(r) = 12cm

Area of the discs(A) = $\pi r^{2}=\pi (0.12)^{2}=.045m^{2}$

Permittivity, $\epsilon _{0}$ = $8.85\times 10^{-12}C^{2}N^{-1}m^{2}$

Distance between the two discs = 5cm=0.05m

$Capacitance= \frac{\varepsilon _{0}A}{d}$

= $\frac{8.85\times 10^{-12}C^{2}N^{-1}m^{2}\times .045m^{2}}{0.05m}$

= $8.003\times 10^{-12}F$

=8.003 pF

$Rate\ of \ change\ of \ potential =\frac{dv}{dt}$

But

$V =\frac{Q}{C}$

Therefore,

$Rate\ of \ change\ of \ potential=\frac{d(\frac{Q}{C})}{dt}=\frac{dq}{Cdt}=\frac{i}{C}$

$=\frac{0.15A}{8.003pF}$

= $1.87\times 10^{10}Vs^{-1}$

1(b). Figure shows a capacitor made of two circular plates, each of radius 12 cm, and separated by 5.0 cm. The capacitor is being charged by an external source (not shown in the figure). The charging current is constant and equal to 0.15A. Obtain the displacement current across the plates.

Answer:

The value of the displacement current will be the same as that of the conduction current, which is given to be 0.15A. Therefore, the displacement current is also 0.15A.

1.(c) Figure 8.5 shows a capacitor made of two circular plates each of radius 12 cm, and separated by 5.0 cm. The capacitor is being charged by an external source (not shown in the figure). The charging current is constant and equal to 0.15A. Is Kirchhoff’s first rule (junction rule) valid at each plate of the capacitor? Explain.

Answer:

Yes, Kirchhoff's First rule (junction rule) is valid at each plate of the capacitor. This might not seem like the case at first, but once we take into consideration both the conduction and displacement current, Kirchhoff's first rule will hold good.

2.(a) A parallel plate capacitor made of circular plates, each of radius R = 6.0 cm, has a capacitance C = 100 pF. The capacitor is connected to a 230 V ac supply with a (angular) frequency of $300 rad s ^{-1}$. What is the rms value of the conduction current?

Answer:

Capacitance(C) of the parallel plate capacitor = 100 pF

Voltage(V) = 230 V

Angular Frequency (ω) = $300\ rad\ s^{-1}$

$Rms\ Current(I) =\frac{Voltage}{Capacitive\ Reactance}$

$Capacitive \ Reactance(X_{c})= \frac{1}{C\omega }=\frac{1}{100\ pF\times 300\ rad\ s^{-1}}$

$X_{c}= 3.33\times 10^{7} \Omega$

$I=\frac{V}{X_{c}}=\frac{230V}{3.33\times 10^{7}\Omega }= 6.9\times 10^{-6}A$

RMS value of conduction current is $6.9\mu A$

2.(b) A parallel plate capacitor (Fig. 8.6) made of circular plates each of radius R = 6.0 cm has a capacitance C = 100 pF. The capacitor is connected to a 230 V ac supply with a (angular) frequency of $300 rad s ^{-1}$ Is the conduction current equal to the displacement current?

Answer:

Yes, conduction current is equal to the displacement current. This will be the case because otherwise, we will get different values of the magnetic field at the same point by taking two different surfaces and applying Ampere–Maxwell Law.

2.(c) A parallel plate capacitor (Fig. 8.6) made of circular plates each of radius R = 6.0 cm has a capacitance C = 100 pF. The capacitor is connected to a 230 V ac supply with a (angular) frequency of $300 rad\: \: s ^{-1}$. Determine the amplitude of B at a point 3.0 cm from the axis between the plates.

Answer:

We know Ampere-Maxwell's Law,

$\oint B\cdot \vec{dl} = \mu _{0}(i_{c}+\varepsilon _{0}\frac{d\phi _{E}}{dt})$

Between the plates conduction current $i_{c}=0$.

For a loop of radius r smaller than the radius of the discs,

$\mu _{0}\varepsilon _{0}\frac{\mathrm{d} \phi _{E}}{\mathrm{d} t}=\mu _{0}i_{d}\frac{\pi r^{2}}{\pi R^{2}}=\mu _{0}i_{d}\frac{ r^{2}}{ R^{2}}$

$B(2\pi r)=\mu _{0}i_{d}\frac{r^{2}}{R^{2}}$

$B=\mu _{0}i_{d}\frac{r}{2\pi R^{2}}$

Since we have to find the amplitude of the magnetic field, we won't use the RMS value but the maximum value of the current.

$\\i_{max}=\sqrt{2}\times i_{rms}\\$
$ i_{max}=\sqrt{2}\times6.9\mu A\\$
$ i_{max}=9.76\mu A$

$\\B_{amp}=\mu _{0}i_{max}\frac{r}{2\pi R^{2}}\\$
$ B_{amp}=\frac{4\pi\times 10^{-7}\times 9.33\times 10^{-6}\times (.03) }{2\pi\times (0.06)^{2} }\\$
$ B_{amp}=1.63\times 10^{-11}T$

The amplitude of B at a point 3.0 cm from the axis between the plates is $1.63\times 10^{-11}T$.

3. What physical quantity is the same for X-rays of wavelength $10 ^{-10}$ m, red light of wavelength 6800 $\dot{A}$ and radio waves of wavelength 500m?

Answer:

The speed with which these electromagnetic waves travel in a vacuum will be the same and will be equal to $3\times 10^{8}ms^{-1}$ (speed of light in vacuum).

4. A plane electromagnetic wave travels in a vacuum along the z-direction. What can you say about the directions of its electric and magnetic field vectors? If the frequency of the wave is 30 MHz, what is its wavelength?

Answer:

Since the electromagnetic wave travels along the z-direction, its electric and magnetic field vectors are lying in the x-y plane as they are mutually perpendicular.

Frequency of wave = 30 MHz

Wavelength = $\frac{Speed\ of\ light}{Frequency}$
$=\frac{3\times 10^{8}}{30\times 10^{6}}$

$=10m$ .

5. A radio can tune in to any station in the 7.5 MHz to 12 MHz band. What is the corresponding wavelength band?

Answer:

Frequency range = 7.5 MHz to 12 MHz

Speed of light = $3\times 10^{8}ms^{-1}$

Wavelength corresponding to the frequency of 7.5 MHz
=$\frac{3\times 10^{8}ms^{-1}}{7.5\times 10^{6}Hz}$

$=40m$

Wavelength corresponding to the frequency of 12 MHz =

$\frac{3\times 10^{8}ms^{-1}}{12\times 10^{6}Hz}$

$=25m$

The corresponding wavelength band is 25m to 40m.

6. A charged particle oscillates about its mean equilibrium position with a frequency of $10^{9}$ Hz. What is the frequency of the electromagnetic waves produced by the oscillator?

Answer:

The frequency of the electromagnetic waves produced by the oscillation of a charged particle about a mean position is equal to the frequency of the oscillation of the charged particle. Therefore, electromagnetic waves produced will have a frequency of $10^9$ Hz.

7. The amplitude of the magnetic field part of a harmonic electromagnetic wave in vacuum is $B_0 = 510 nT$. What is the amplitude of the electric field part of the wave?

Answer:

Magnetic Field ($B_0$ )=510 nT = 510 $\times$ $10^{-9}$ T

Speed of light(c) = 3 $\times$ $10^{8}$ $ms^{-1}$

Electric Field = $B_0$ $\times$ c

= 510 $\times$ $10^{-9}$ T $\times$ 3 $\times$ $10^{8}$ $ms^{-1}$

= 153 $NC^{-1}$

8. Suppose that the electric field amplitude of an electromagnetic wave is $E_0 = 120 N/C$ and that its frequency is $\nu =50.0\ MHz$ (a) Determine $B_0, \omega, \ k, \lambda$ (b) Find expressions for E and B.

Answer:

$E_0$ = 120 NC ^-1

$\nu =50.0\ MHz

$Magnetic\ Field \ amplitude(B0) =\frac{E_{0}}{c}$

= $\frac{120}{3\times 10^{8}}$

$=400 nT$

Angular frequency ( $\omega$ ) = 2 $\pi \nu$

$=2$ $\times \pi \times 50$ $\times$ $10^{6}$

=3.14 $\times$ $10^{8}$ rad $s^{-1}$

Propagation constant(k)

= $\frac{2\pi }{\lambda }$

= $\frac{2\pi \nu }{\lambda\nu }$

= $\frac{\omega }{c}$

= $\frac{3.14\times 10^{8} }{3\times 10^{8}}$

=1.05 rad $m^{-1}$

Wavelength( $\lambda$ ) = $\frac{c}{\nu }$

= $\frac{3\times 10^{8}}{50\times 10^{6}}$ $= 6 m$

Assuming the electromagnetic wave propagates in the positive z-direction, the Electric field vector will be in the positive x-direction and the magnetic field vector will be in the positive y-direction, as they are mutually perpendicular and $E_{0}\times B_{0}$ gives the direction of propagation of the wave.

$\vec{E}=E_{0}sin(kx-\omega t)\hat{i}$

$= 120sin(1.05x-3.14\times 10^{8} t)NC^{-1}\hat{i}$

$\vec{B}=B_{0}sin(kx-\omega t)\hat{j}$

$= 400sin(1.05x-3.14\times 10^{8} t)\ nT\hat{j}$

9. The terminology of different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum is given in the text. Use the formula E = hv (for energy of a quantum of radiation: photon) and obtain the photon energy in units of eV for different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. In what way are the different scales of photon energies that you obtain related to the sources of electromagnetic radiation?

Answer:

$E=h\nu=\frac{hc}{\lambda}$

$E=h\nu=\frac{6.6\times 10^{-34}\times3\times10^8}{\lambda \times1.6\times10^{-19}}eV=\frac{12.375\times 10^{-7}}{\lambda}eV$

Now substitute a different range of wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum to obtain the energy

EM wave	One wavelength is taken from the range	Energy in eV
Radio	1 m	$1.2375\times10^{-6}$
Microwave	1 mm	$1.2375\times10^{-3}$
Infra-red	1000 nm	1.2375
Light	500 nm	2.475
Ultraviolet	1nm	1237.5
X-rays	0.01 nm	123750
Gamma rays	0.0001 nm	12375000

10(a) In a plane electromagnetic wave, the electric field oscillates sinusoidally at a frequency of $20 \times 10 ^{10 }Hz$ and amplitude $48 Vm ^{-1}$. What is the wavelength of the wave?

Answer:

Frequency( $\nu$ ) =20 $\times$ $10^{10}$ Hz

$E_0$ = 48 V$m^{-1}$

$Wavelength(\lambda) =\frac{Speed\ of\ light(c)}{Frequency (\nu )}$

= $\frac{3\times 10^{8}}{20\times 10^{10}}$

$=1.5 mm$

10 (b) In a plane electromagnetic wave, the electric field oscillates sinusoidally at a frequency of $2.0 \times 10 ^{10} Hz$ and amplitude $48 V m^{-1}$. What is the amplitude of the oscillating magnetic field?

Answer:

The amplitude of the oscillating magnetic field(B 0 ) = $\frac{E_{0}}{c}$

$=$ $\frac{48}{3\times 10^{8}}$

$=160 nT$

10.(c) In a plane electromagnetic wave, the electric field oscillates sinusoidally at a frequency of $2.0 \times 10 ^{10} Hz$ and amplitude $48 V m^{-1}$. Show that the average energy density of the E field equals the average energy density of the B field. $[c = 3 \times 10^8 m s^{-1}. ]$

Answer:

The average energy density of the Electric field(U E )

= $\frac{1}{2}\epsilon E^{2}$

= $\frac{1}{2}\epsilon (Bc)^{2}$ (as E=Bc)

= $\frac{1}{2}\epsilon \frac{B^{2}}{\mu \epsilon }$ $(c=\frac{1}{\sqrt{\mu \epsilon }})$

=$U_B$

Therefore, the average energy density of the electric field is equal to the average energy density of the Magnetic field.

Class 12 Physics Chapter 8 - Electromagnetic Waves: Additional Questions

Electromagnetic Waves NCERT Solutions of additional questions offer additional work beyond school textbook questions to learners to allow them to solidify their concept knowledge, such as the propagation of waves, energy transfer, and uses of electromagnetic waves. These are solutions which are capable of raising exam preparedness and problem-solving abilities, both on the board and competitive examinations.

1 (a) Suppose that the electric field part of an electromagnetic wave in vacuum is $E = \left \{ ( 3.1 N/C )\cos [ ( 1.8 rad /m)y + ( 5.4 \times 10 ^6 rad /s t )] \right \} \hat i$. What is the direction of propagation?

Answer:

$E = \left \{ ( 3.1 N/C )\cos [ ( 1.8 rad /m)y + ( 5.4 \times 10 ^6 rad /s t )] \right \} \hat i$

$E = \left \{ ( 3.1 N/C )\sin [ (\frac{\pi }{2}-(( 1.8 rad /m)y + ( 5.4 \times 10 ^6 rad /s t ))] \right \} \hat i$

The electric field vector is in the negative x-direction, and the wave propagates in the negative y-direction.

1 (b) Suppose that the electric field part of an electromagnetic wave in vacuum is $E = \left \{ ( 3.1 N/C )\cos [ ( 1.8 rad /m)y + ( 5.4 \times 10 ^6 rad /s t )] \right \} \hat i$. What is the wavelength?

Answer:

From the equation of the wave given we can infer k = 1.8 rad $m^{-1}$

$Wavelength(\lambda )=\frac{2\pi }{k}$

$=\frac{2\pi }{1.8}$

$=3.49 m$

1 (c) Suppose that the electric field part of an electromagnetic wave in vacuum is $E = \left \{ ( 3.1 N/C )\cos [ ( 1.8 rad /m)y + ( 5.4 \times 10 ^6 rad /s t )] \right \} \hat i$. What is the frequency n?

Answer:

From the given equation of the electric field, we can infer angular frequency( $\omega$ ) = 5.4 $\ times$10^6 rad $s^{-1}$

$\begin{aligned} & \text { Frequency, } v=\frac{c}{\lambda}=\frac{3 \times 10^8}{3.5} \\ & \approx 85.7 \times 10^6 \mathrm{~Hz} \cong 86 \mathrm{MHz}\end{aligned}$

1 (d) Suppose that the electric field part of an electromagnetic wave in vacuum is $E = \left \{ ( 3.1 N/C )\cos [ ( 1.8 rad /m)y + ( 5.4 \times 10 ^6 rad /s t )] \right \} \hat i$. What is the amplitude of the magnetic field part of the wave?

Answer:

From the given equation of the electric field, we can infer Electric field amplitude (E 0 ) =3.1$NC^{-1}$

$\text{Magnetic field amplitude}, (B_0) =\frac{E_{0}}{c}$

$=\frac{3.1}{3\times 10^{8}}$

=1.03 $\times$ $10^{-7}$ T

1(e) Suppose that the electric field part of an electromagnetic wave in vacuum is $E = \left \{ ( 3.1 N/C )\cos [ ( 1.8 rad /m)y + ( 5.4 \times 10 ^6 rad /s )t] \right \} \hat i$. Write an expression for the magnetic field part of the wave.

Answer:

As the electric field vector is directed along the negative x-direction and the electromagnetic wave propagates along the negative y-direction, the magnetic field vector must be directed along the negative z-direction. ( $-\hat{i}\times -\hat{k}=-\hat{j}$ )

Therefore, $\vec{B}= \left \{ B_{0}\cos [ ( 1.8 rad /m)y + ( 5.4 \times 10 ^6 rad /s )t] \right \} \hat k$

$\vec{B}= \left \{ 1.03\times 10^{-7}\cos [ ( 1.8 rad /m)y + ( 5.4 \times 10 ^6 rad /s )t] \right \}T \hat k$

2.(a) About 5% of the power of a 100 W light bulb is converted to visible radiation. What is the average intensity of visible radiation at a distance of 1m from the bulb? Assume that the radiation is emitted isotropically and neglect reflection.

Answer:

Total power which is converted into visible radiation = 5% of 100W = 5W

The above means 5J of energy is passing through the surface of a concentric sphere(with the bulb at its centre) per second.

Intensity for a sphere of radius 1m

$=\frac{5}{4\pi (1)^{2}}$

=0.398 $Wm^{-2}$

2.(b) About 5% of the power of a 100 W light bulb is converted to visible radiation. What is the average intensity of visible radiation at a distance of 10 m? Assume that the radiation is emitted isotropically and neglect reflection.

Answer:

Total power which is converted into visible radiation = 5% of 100W = 5W

The above means 5J of energy is passing through the surface of a concentric sphere(with the bulb at its centre) per second.

Intensity for a sphere of radius 10 m

$=\frac{5}{4\pi (10)^{2}}$

=3.98 $\times$ $10^{-3}$ $Wm^{-2}$

3. Use the formula $\lambda _m T = 0.29 cm K$ to obtain the characteristic temperature ranges for different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. What do the numbers that you obtain tell you?

Answer:

EM wave	One wavelength is taken from the range	Temperature $T=\frac{0.29}{\lambda}$
Radio	100 cm	$2.9\times 10^{-3}K$
Microwave	0.1cm	2.9 K
Infra-red	100000ncm	2900K
Light	50000 ncm	5800K
Ultraviolet	100ncm	$2.9\times10^{6}K$
X-rays	1 ncm	$2.9\times10^8K$
Gamma rays	0.01 nm	$2.9\times10^{10}K$

These numbers indicate the temperature ranges required for obtaining radiation in different parts of the spectrum

4.(a) Given below are some famous numbers associated with electromagnetic radiation in different contexts in physics. State the part of the electromagnetic spectrum to which each belongs.

21 cm (wavelength emitted by atomic hydrogen in interstellar space).

Answer:

Radio waves

4 (b) Given below are some famous numbers associated with electromagnetic radiation in different contexts in physics. State the part of the electromagnetic spectrum to which each belongs.

1057 MHz (frequency of radiation arising from two close energy levels in hydrogen; known as the Lamb shift).

Answer:

Frequency( $\nu$ )=1057 MHz

Wavelength( $\lambda$ ) $=\frac{c}{\nu }$

$=\frac{3\times 10^{8}}{1057\times 10^{6} }$

=0.283 m

=28.3 cm

Radio waves

4 (c) Given below are some famous numbers associated with electromagnetic radiation in different contexts in physics. State the part of the electromagnetic spectrum to which each belongs.

2.7 K [temperature associated with the isotropic radiation filling all space, thought to be a relic of the ‘big-bang’ origin of the universe].

Answer:

Using formula, $\lambda _{m}T=0.29\ cmK$

$\lambda =\frac{0.29}{2.7}$

= 0.107cm

Microwaves.

4 (d) Given below are some famous numbers associated with electromagnetic radiation in different contexts in physics. State the part of the electromagnetic spectrum to which each belongs.

$5890 \dot{A} - 5896 \dot{A}$ [double lines of sodium]

Answer:

Visible light.

4 (e) Given below are some famous numbers associated with electromagnetic radiation in different contexts in physics. State the part of the electromagnetic spectrum to which each belongs.

14.4 keV [energy of a particular transition in $^{57} Fe$ nucleus associated with a famous high resolution spectroscopic method (Mössbauer spectroscopy)].

Answer:

E=14.4 keV

Wavelength( $\lambda$ ) = $\frac{hc}{E}$

= $\frac{6.6\times 10^{-34}\times 3\times 10^{8}}{14.4\times 10^{3}\times 1.6\times 10^{-19}}$

= 0.85 $\dot{A}$

X-rays