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Question
What do you understand by the statement, "Electromagnetic waves transport momentum"?
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Solution
If we consider a plane perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the electromagnetic wave then electric charges present on the plane will be set and sustained in motion by the electric and magnetic fields of the electromagnetic wave. The charges present on the surface thus acquire energy and momentum from the waves. This just illustrates the fact that an electromagnetic wave (like other waves) transfers energy and momentum.
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