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A plane electromagnetic wave propagating along y-direction can have the following pair of electric field (E) and magnetic field (B) components.

Asked in JEE Main 18th March 2nd Shift 2021 · Direction from E cross B, and oblique propagation

Answer: (3) Eₓ, B_z or E_z, Bₓ

Step-by-step solution

For travel along y, neither E nor B may have a y-component

That rules out every pair in (a), (b) and (d), each of which carries an E_y or a B_y

The surviving pair is (Eₓ, B_z) or (E_z, Bₓ): k̂ × ı̂ = ȷ̂ lies along the y-direction

Why the other options are wrong

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