Jump to a section

Physics - Electromagnetic Waves

Practise 162 JEE Main previous year questions on Electromagnetic Waves, compiled from papers spanning 2002 to 2026. Each question is pulled directly from the actual exam paper it appeared in, so you're practising in the exact style and difficulty JEE Main tests.

Electromagnetic Waves has been asked in 19 of the 25 years of JEE Main papers analysed (2002–2026), with 162 questions in all. 50% of them were easy, 44% moderate and 6% tough. Most of its questions came from 2021, with 22 questions that year. In the last three years (2024–2026) it had 36 questions across 49 papers, about 0.7 per paper.

The chapter's 3 topics are not weighted equally: Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations (134 questions, 83%), Electromagnetic Spectrum (21 questions, 13%), and X-Rays (7 questions, 4%) have been asked the most. Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations has also led over the last five years, with 67 questions. Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations has produced the most tough questions (9).

  1. 1A monochromatic source of light operating at kW emits photons/s. The region of an electromagnetic spectrum to which the emitted electromagne08 Apr, 2026 (E)Electromagnetic Spectrum
  2. 2A point light source emits E.M. waves in free space. A detector, placed at a distance of m, measures the intensity as . The detector is now 06 Apr, 2026 (M)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  3. 3For an electromagnetic wave propagating through vacuum, , and represent propagation vector, electric field and angular frequency, respective06 Apr, 2026 (E)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  4. 4A displacement current of A can be set up in the space between two parallel plates of F capacitor. The rate of change of potential differenc05 Apr, 2026 (M)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  5. 5A magnetic field vector in an electromagnetic wave is represented by . Its associated electric field vector is ______.04 Apr, 2026 (E)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  6. 6An electromagnetic wave travelling in -direction is described by field equation . If the electron is restricted to move in -direction only w02 Apr, 2026 (M)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  7. 7An electromagnetic wave travels in free space along the -direction. At a particular point in space and time, T is associated with this wave.02 Apr, 2026 (E)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  8. 8The electric field of an electromagnetic wave travelling through a medium is given by then the refractive index of the medium is . (All give28 Jan, 2026 (M)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  9. 9A plane electromagnetic wave is moving in free space with velocity and its electric field is given as , where is the unit vector along -axis28 Jan, 2026 (E)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  10. 10Match the LIST-I with LIST-II \( {array}{|l|l|l|l|} & {List-I} & & {List-II} \\ {A.} & {Radio-wave} & {I.} & {is produced by Magnetron valve24 Jan, 2026 (M)Electromagnetic Spectrum
  11. 11Match List - I with List - II. Choose the correct answer from the options given below :23 Jan, 2026 (M)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  12. 12The equation of the electric field of an electromagnetic wave propagating through free space is given by : The average power of the electrom23 Jan, 2026 (M)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  13. 13The ratio of speeds of electromagnetic waves in vacuum and a medium, having dielectric constant and permeability of , is ( permeability of v23 Jan, 2026 (E)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  14. 14The electric field of a plane electromagnetic wave, travelling in an unknown nonmagnetic medium is given by, (where and other values have S.22 Jan, 2026 (M)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  15. 15A laser beam has intensity of . The amplitude of magnetic field associated with beam is T. (Take and )22 Jan, 2026 (E)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  16. 16The electric field in a plane electromagnetic wave is given by : . The expression for magnetic field associated with this electromagnetic wa21 Jan, 2026 (M)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  17. 17An electromagnetic wave of frequency 100 MHz propagates through a medium of conductivity, . The ratio of maximum conduction current density 21 Jan, 2026 (E)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  18. 18Two plane polarized light waves combine at a certain point whose electric field components are Find the amplitude of the resultant wave.07 Apr, 2025 (M)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  19. 19The unit of is : (I = intensity of an electromagnetic wave, speed of light)07 Apr, 2025 (E)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  20. 20If an optical medium possesses a relative permeability of and relative permittivity of , then the velocity of light is greater in vacuum tha04 Apr, 2025 (E)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  21. 21Given below are two statements : one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A) : Electromagnetic w29 Jan, 2025 (M)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  22. 22A plane electromagnetic wave propagates along the direction in free space. The components of the electric field, and magnetic field, vectors29 Jan, 2025 (E)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  23. 23Due to presence of an em-wave whose electric component is given by , a cylinder of length 200 cm holds certain amount of em-energy inside it28 Jan, 2025 (M)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  24. 24The magnetic field of an E.M. wave is given by (S.I. Units). The corresponding electric field in S.I. units is :28 Jan, 2025 (E)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  25. 25The electric field of an electromagnetic wave in free space is . The associated magnetic field in Tesla is23 Jan, 2025 (M)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  26. 26A plane electromagnetic wave of frequency 20 MHz travels in free space along the direction. At a particular point in space and time, the ele23 Jan, 2025 (E)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  27. 27A parallel plate capacitor of area and separation between the plates 10 cm , is charged by a DC current. Consider a hypothetical plane surfa22 Jan, 2025 (E)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  28. 28A plane EM wave is propagating along direction. It has a wavelength of . If electric field is in direction with the maximum magnitude of , t09 Apr, 2024 (M)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  29. 29The magnetic field in a plane electromagnetic wave is . The corresponding electric field will be :09 Apr, 2024 (E)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  30. 30Electromagnetic waves travel in a medium with speed of . The relative permeability of the medium is 2.0 . The relative permittivity will be:06 Apr, 2024 (M)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  31. 31In the given electromagnetic wave , intensity of the associated light beam is (in : (Given )06 Apr, 2024 (E)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  32. 32An alternating voltage of amplitude and frequency is applied directly across the capacitor of . The maximum displacement current between the05 Apr, 2024 (M)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  33. 33Match List-I with List-II :05 Apr, 2024 (E)Electromagnetic Spectrum
  34. 34The electric field in an electromagnetic wave is given by . The magnetic field induction of this wave is (in SI unit) :04 Apr, 2024 (M)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  35. 35Arrange the following in the ascending order of wavelength: A. Gamma rays B. - rays C. Infrared waves D. Microwaves Choose the most appropri04 Apr, 2024 (E)Electromagnetic Spectrum
  36. 36If frequency of electromagnetic wave is 60 MHz and it travels in air along z direction then the corresponding electric and magnetic field ve01 Feb, 2024 (E)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  37. 37In a plane EM wave, the electric field oscillates sinusoidally at a frequency of 5 × 10 10 Hz and an amplitude of 50 V m – 1 . The total ave31 Jan, 2024 (M)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  38. 38Given below are two statements: Statement I: Electromagnetic waves carry energy as they travel through space and this energy is equally shar31 Jan, 2024 (E)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  39. 39The electric field of an electromagnetic wave in free space is represented as E → = E 0 cos ( ω t - k z ) i ^ . The corresponding magnetic i30 Jan, 2024 (M)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  40. 40Match List I with List II List I List II A. Gauss’s law of magnetostatics i. ∮ E → · d a → = 1 ε 0 ∫ ρ d V B. Faraday’s law of electro magne30 Jan, 2024 (E)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  41. 41A plane electromagnetic wave of frequency 35 MHz travels in free space along the X -direction. At a particular point (in space and time) E →29 Jan, 2024 (E)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  42. 42A plane electromagnetic wave propagating in x -direction is described by E y = 200 V m - 1 sin 1 . 5 × 10 7 t - 0 . 05 x ; The intensity of 27 Jan, 2024 (M)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  43. 43An object is placed in a medium of refractive index 3 . An electromagnetic wave of intensity 6 × 10 8 W m - 2 falls normally on the object a27 Jan, 2024 (E)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  44. 44Match List-I with List II of Electromagnetic waves with corresponding wavelength range: List I List II (A) Microwave (I) 400 nm to 1 nm (B) 15 Apr, 2023 (M)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  45. 45Which of the following Maxwell s equation is valid for time varying conditions but not valid for static conditions:13 Apr, 2023 (M)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  46. 46Given below are two statements: Statement I : Out of microwaves, infrared rays and ultraviolet rays, ultraviolet rays are the most effective13 Apr, 2023 (E)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  47. 47In an electromagnetic wave, at an instant and at a particular position, the electric field is along the negative z-axis and magnetic field i13 Apr, 2023 (E)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  48. 48Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R Assertion A : EM waves used for optical12 Apr, 2023 (M)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  49. 49A plane electromagnetic wave of frequency 20 MHz propagates in free space along x -direction. At a particular space and time E = 6 . 6 j ^ V11 Apr, 2023 (E)Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations
  50. 50The amplitude of magnetic field in an electromagnetic wave propagating along y -axis is 6 . 0 10 7 T . The maximum value of electric field i10 Apr, 2023 (E)Electromagnetic Spectrum

Frequently Asked Questions

1.How many questions are available for Electromagnetic Waves?

This chapter includes 162 questions compiled from JEE Main papers spanning 2002 to 2026.

2.Are these questions only from JEE Main, or from other exams too?

These are JEE Main questions specifically for the Electromagnetic Waves chapter. Questions from other exams like NTA Abhyas (JEE Main) or JEE Advanced are organised separately under their respective exam sections.

3.Is Electromagnetic Waves an important chapter for JEE Main Physics?

Electromagnetic Waves has appeared in 19 of the 25 years of JEE Main papers covered here, with 162 questions across 151 papers - about one per paper it appears in.

4.What is the difficulty level of Electromagnetic Waves questions in JEE Main?

Of the 162 questions analysed for this chapter, 50% are easy, 44% moderate and 6% tough. 2021 had the most, with 22 questions.

5.Which topics in Electromagnetic Waves should I focus on?

These topics have carried the most weightage in Electromagnetic Waves:

  • Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations - 134 questions (83%)
  • Electromagnetic Spectrum - 21 questions (13%)
  • X-Rays - 7 questions (4%)
  • Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell's equations has produced the most tough questions (9).
6.Is Electromagnetic Waves's weightage in JEE Main going up or down?

Across all 151 papers analysed, Electromagnetic Waves has averaged about 1.1 questions per paper. In the last three years (2024–2026), that average has fallen, at about 0.7 questions per paper. Use the year-wise numbers on this page for the exact trend before you decide how much time to give it.