Free daily NEET & JEE PYQs, quizzes & mock tests on TelegramJoin free →

JEE Main Physics: Electromagnetic Waves Practice Questions

12 free multiple-choice questions on Electromagnetic Waves for JEE Main Physics, each with the correct answer and a step-by-step explanation. Attempt a question, then reveal the solution to check your reasoning.

Practice thousands more Electromagnetic Waves questions in the app →

  1. Q1. The region of the electromagnetic spectrum that lies between visible light and infrared radiation is:

    • AInfrared radiation
    • BUltraviolet radiation
    • CX-rays
    • DMicrowaves
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: A — Infrared radiation

    Infrared (IR) radiation is located immediately beyond the visible light region on the lower energy side of the spectrum.

  2. Q2. Electromagnetic waves are best described as waves that:

    • AAre self-propagating and do not require a medium
    • BAre longitudinal waves only
    • CAre mechanical waves only
    • DRequire a medium for propagation
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: A — Are self-propagating and do not require a medium

    Electromagnetic waves are disturbances in the electric and magnetic fields and can travel through a vacuum without any physical medium.

  3. Q3. Which type of radiation carries the highest energy among all the electromagnetic waves listed?

    • AX-rays
    • BVisible light
    • CRadio waves
    • DInfrared radiation
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: A — X-rays

    Gamma rays possess the highest frequency and energy, corresponding to the shortest wavelengths at the high-energy end of the spectrum.

  4. Q4. Which phenomenon is directly related to the existence of Brewster's angle for reflection of electromagnetic waves?

    • APolarization of reflected light
    • BTotal Internal Reflection
    • CReflection of light from a metallic surface
    • DRefraction at the critical angle
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: A — Polarization of reflected light

    Brewster's angle is specifically the angle at which the reflected light becomes perfectly linearly polarized.

  5. Q5. The speed of an electromagnetic wave in a vacuum is determined by which fundamental constant?

    • ASpeed of light in vacuum (c)
    • BCharge of an electron (e)
    • CPermittivity of free space (epsilon₀)
    • DPlanck's constant (h)
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: A — Speed of light in vacuum (c)

    The speed of all electromagnetic waves in a vacuum is the speed of light, denoted by c (approximately 3 × 10⁸ m/s).

  6. Q6. Which region of the electromagnetic spectrum has the longest wavelength?

    • AVisible light
    • BGamma rays
    • CX-rays
    • DRadio waves
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: D — Radio waves

    Radio waves have the longest wavelengths among all electromagnetic waves.

  7. Q7. When unpolarized light is incident on a dielectric surface at Brewster's angle, the reflected light is polarized in which direction relative to the plane of incidence?

    • AParallel to the plane of incidence
    • BPerpendicular to the plane of incidence
    • CAt 45° to the plane of incidence
    • DParallel to the surface
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: B — Perpendicular to the plane of incidence

    At Brewster's angle, the reflected light is perfectly polarized perpendicular to the plane of incidence.

  8. Q8. What is the nature of the electric field (E) and magnetic field (B) components of an electromagnetic wave traveling in a vacuum?

    • ALongitudinal and Perpendicular
    • BTransverse and Perpendicular
    • CLongitudinal and Transverse
    • DTransverse and Parallel
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: B — Transverse and Perpendicular

    Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves. The electric field and magnetic field are mutually perpendicular to each other and to the direction of propagation.

  9. Q9. Infrared (IR) radiation is primarily associated with which phenomenon?

    • AVision
    • BFluorescence
    • CHeating
    • DX-ray imaging
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: C — Heating

    Infrared radiation is strongly associated with heat transfer, which is the principle behind thermal imaging and heating applications.

  10. Q10. In an electromagnetic wave, the direction of propagation is related to the directions of the electric field (E⃗) and magnetic field (B⃗) as:

    • APerpendicular to both E and B
    • BParallel to both E and B
    • CPerpendicular to E and parallel to B
    • DParallel to E and perpendicular to B
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: D — Parallel to E and perpendicular to B

    In an EM wave, the electric field, magnetic field, and the direction of propagation are mutually perpendicular to each other (transverse nature).

  11. Q11. The radiation with the highest frequency and shortest wavelength in the electromagnetic spectrum is:

    • AGamma rays
    • BVisible light
    • CX-rays
    • DUltraviolet rays
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: A — Gamma rays

    Gamma rays possess the highest frequency and shortest wavelength, corresponding to the highest energy levels in the spectrum.

  12. Q12. Which electromagnetic wave has the shortest wavelength?

    • ARadio waves
    • BVisible light
    • CX-rays
    • DUltraviolet radiation
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: C — X-rays

    X-rays have the shortest wavelengths and highest frequencies, placing them at the high-energy end of the spectrum.

Keep going — practice on Padhai Karlo

Padhai Karlo gives you unlimited JEE Main practice: chapter-wise questions, timed quizzes, and full mock tests with an All-India Rank — free to start.

Get the free Android app →

More JEE Main Physics practice

← All practice topics