Light is an electromagnetic wave.When visible light is plane polarized,
A)the electric-field vector is parallel to the magnetic-field vector.
B)the electric-field vector is parallel to the direction of propagation.
C)the electric-field vector is in a fixed direction perpendicular to the direction of propagation,but the magnetic-field vector may be in any direction.
D)the electric-field vector is in a fixed direction perpendicular to the direction of propagation,and the magnetic-field vector is perpendicular to the electric-field vector.
E)None of these is correct.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When visible light is plane polarized, the electric-field vector oscillates in a fixed direction perpendicular to the direction of propagation. The magnetic-field vector is also perpendicular to the electric-field vector and is in a fixed direction perpendicular to both the electric-field vector and the direction of propagation. Therefore, the correct choice is D.

Light Is an Electromagnetic Wave