Question

Electromagnetic waves are transverse in nature as is evident by
A. Polarization
B. Interference
C. Reflection
D. Diffraction

Answer 1

Hint: Remember the basic concepts of diffraction of electromagnetic waves, diffraction of electromagnetic waves and polarization of electromagnetic waves then find which one of them explains the transverse nature of electromagnetic waves.

Complete Step-by-Step solution:
We know that interference and diffraction explains the wave nature of electromagnetic wave
In Interference two waveforms combine to form a resultant wave of greater amplitude or less.
And in Diffraction as the light passes around the edge of an object a slight bending of light is observed
But in Polarization the vibration of an electromagnetic wave is restricted through polarization, in direction perpendicular to the wave propagation.
Hence, Polarization explains the transverse nature of electromagnetic waves.

Note: According to Maxwell electromagnetic waves show the following properties.
The magnetic field oscillates in phase with the electric field. In other words, a wave maximum of the magnetic field always coincides with a wave maximum of the electric field in both time and space.
The electric field is always perpendicular to the magnetic field, and both fields are directed at right-angles to the direction of propagation of the wave. In fact, the wave propagates in the direction E×B. Electromagnetic waves are clearly a type of transverse wave.
For a z-directed wave, the electric field is free to oscillate in any direction which lies in the x-y plane. The direction in which the electric field oscillates is conventionally termed the direction of polarization of the wave.
The maximum amplitudes of the electric and the magnetic fields are related via ${E_0} = c{B_0}$
There is no constraint on the possible frequency or wavelength of electromagnetic waves. However, the propagation velocity of electromagnetic waves is fixed, and takes the value i.e. \[c = \dfrac{1}{{\sqrt {{u_0}{\varepsilon _0}} }}\].