For a plane electromagnetic wave propagating in x-direction, which one of the following combination gives the correct possible directions for electric field (E) and magnetic field (B) respectively?

(1) $\hat j + \hat k, \hat j + \hat k $
(2) $-\hat j + \hat k, -\hat j – \hat k $
(3) $\hat j + \hat k, -\hat j – \hat k $
(4) $-\hat j + \hat k,-\hat j+\hat k $

Solution

The direction of propagation $\hat i$ is the same as the direction of $\vec E \times \vec B$.

Or, $\hat i = \frac {\vec E \times \vec B}{| \vec E \times \vec B |}$

Options (1) & (4)  have identical vectors making their cross product 0.

Option (3) has vectors in opposite directions making their cross product 0 again.

For Option (2), $( – \hat j + \hat k) \times ( – \hat j – \hat k) = \hat j \times \hat k – \hat k \times \hat j = 2\hat i$

$\therefore \frac{{\vec E \times \vec B}}{{|\vec E \times \vec B|}} = \frac{{2\hat i}}{2} = \hat i$

Answer: (2)