Question

A free electron is placed in the path of a plane electromagnetic wave. The electron will start moving

Options

• along the electric field

• along the magnetic field

• along the direction of propagation of the wave

• in a plane containing the magnetic field and the direction of propagation

Answer 1

along the electric field

As the electron is at rest initially, only the electric field will exert force on it. There will be no magnetic force on the electron in the stating. Hence, the electron will start moving along the electric field.