Question

An excited hydrogen atom releases an electromagnetic wave to return to its normal state. You use your futuristic dual electric/magnetic field tester on the electromagnetic wave to find the directions of the electric field and magnetic field. Your device tells you that the electric field is pointing in the negative z direction and the magnetic field is pointing in the positive y direction. In which direction does the released electromagnetic wave travel

Answer 1

Answer:

The answer is -x direction.

Explanation:

According to the right hand rule for electromagnetism, when the thumb points up, index finger points forward and the middle finger is perpendicular to the index finger, the thumb points in the direction of the magnetic force, the index finger in the direction of the charge movement and the middle finger in the direction of the electromagnetic lines. If the electric field is pointing in the -z direction which is into the screen and the magnetic field is in the +y direction which is upwards, then the magnetic lines are in the -x direction.

I hope this answer helps.