Extra exam question E3A04
Subelement E3, RADIO WAVE PROPAGATION· Group E3A
In what direction does an electromagnetic wave travel?
- A.It depends on the phase angle of the magnetic field
- B.It travels parallel to the electric and magnetic fields
- C.It depends on the phase angle of the electric field
- D.It travels at a right angle to the electric and magnetic fields (correct answer)
WhyAn electromagnetic wave travels at a right angle to both its electric and magnetic field components. An electromagnetic wave's direction of travel is at a right angle to both its electric and magnetic field components, the three are mutually perpendicular, which is why the direction of propagation is often described using the right-hand rule applied to the E and H fields, answer D. The wave doesn't travel parallel to either field, and its direction isn't something that depends on either field's phase angle.
Published 2026-08-28 · Last updated 2026-08-28 · Question text is verbatim from the 2024-2028 NCVEC Element 4 pool (public domain); the explanation above is original writing, see our methodology.
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