Questions from Modern Physics

Q: Does an electromagnetic standing wave have energy? Does it have momentum

Does an electromagnetic standing wave have energy? Does it have momentum? Are your answers to these questions the same as for a traveling wave? Why or why not?

Q: A circuit consists of a light bulb, a capacitor, and

A circuit consists of a light bulb, a capacitor, and an inductor connected in series to an ac source. What happens to the brightness of the bulb when the inductor is omitted? When the inductor is left...

Q: How can you determine the direction of the polarizing axis of a

How can you determine the direction of the polarizing axis of a single polarizer?

Q: If you sit on the beach and look at the ocean through

If you sit on the beach and look at the ocean through Polaroid sunglasses, the glasses help to reduce the glare from sunlight reflecting off the water. But if you lie on your side on the beach, there...

Q: It has been proposed that automobile windshields and headlights should have polarizing

It has been proposed that automobile windshields and headlights should have polarizing filters to reduce the glare of oncoming lights during night driving. Would this work? How should the polarizing a...

Q: An inductor, a capacitor, and a resistor are all connected

An inductor, a capacitor, and a resistor are all connected in series across an ac source. If the resistance, inductance, and capacitance are all doubled, by what factor does each of the following quan...

Q: For the old “rabbit-ear” style TV antennas,

For the old “rabbit-ear” style TV antennas, it’s possible to alter the quality of reception considerably simply by changing the orientation of the antenna. Why?

Q: You are sunbathing in the late afternoon when the sun is relatively

You are sunbathing in the late afternoon when the sun is relatively low in the western sky. You are lying flat on your back, looking straight up through Polaroid sunglasses. To minimize the amount of...

Q: Devise straightforward experiments to measure the speed of light in a given

Devise straightforward experiments to measure the speed of light in a given glass using a. Snell’s law; b. total internal reflection; c. Brewster’s law.

Q: The light beam from a searchlight may have an electric field magnitude

The light beam from a searchlight may have an electric field magnitude of 1000 V/m, corresponding to a potential difference of 1500 V between the head and feet of a 1.5-m-tall person on whom the light...