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Sunday, 25 October

JEE Main · Physics · Class 12

Electromagnetic Waves: JEE Main previous year questions

103 questions in 92 of the 108 JEE Main shifts Lumi analysed, asked in 7 of 8 years. Here is what this chapter tests and how.

Study this chapter
Questions
103
in 92 of 108 shifts · 7 of 8 years
Average a shift
0.7
of 25 Physics · 0.7 since 2024 0.0
Typical range
0.4–0.9
questions a shift; fewest 0.0, most 1.0
Weighted estimate
0.8
model, recent years count more · about 3.1 marks
  • Typical range (fact)
  • Average a shift (fact)
  • Weighted estimate (model)

Questions are counted per shift, out of the 25 each subject has, in the shifts Lumi analysed; papers that offered 30 a subject (2017, 2021–2024) are scaled to 25. Typical range: the middle six of the eight years (2017, 2020–2026), leaving out the single highest and lowest year. The average and the range are historical fact. The weighted estimate is a model: each year's share, with recent years counting more (half-life three years), and chapters NTA dropped from the syllabus set near zero. It is a guide to effort, not a forecast of the paper.

What to do

How to spend time on Electromagnetic Waves

Priority

Should do

One of the 10 Physics chapters that took Physics from half to 80% of its questions in the 108 shifts analysed. How bands are set

Past questions
103in 92 of 108 shifts
Study plan gives it
13 hover 12 months; 10 h over 6
Study this chapter →

Ideas asked most often

  1. Displacement Current Between Plates7×
  2. Thermal Radiation Pressure3×

53 of the 58 ideas in Lumi’s map of this chapter have not been asked or touched in the shifts analysed. Of its idea-tagged questions from 2024 on, 0% tested an idea not asked in an earlier year, so learn the whole chapter, not just the list above.

Within each subject, chapters in NTA's 2026 syllabus are ranked by their average questions a shift over all 8 years analysed (history, not the model). Going down that list, the chapters that together held the first half of the subject's questions are Must do; the next ones, up to 80%, are Should do; the rest are Lower priority.

Key findings

Electromagnetic Waves at a glance

  1. 01

    100%

    of its 8 questions from 2024 on that Lumi matched to an idea tested one JEE Main had asked in an earlier year; 100% came from a topic asked in an earlier year.

  2. 02

    91%

    of the 58 ideas in Lumi's map of the chapter have not been asked or touched on in the shifts analysed.

  3. 03

    18%

    of its questions asked for a numerical answer, 0.6 times the Physics average.

  4. 04

    6%

    of its questions were rated hard, against 5% across all Physics questions in the same shifts.

Questions a shift, year by year

Out of the 25 Physics questions in a shift. Years differ in how many shifts Lumi analysed, so each year is scaled to one shift.

0240’170.9’200.8’210.9’221’230.9’240.4’250.9’26

Raw count: 2017: 0 in 1 shift · 2020: 11 in 12 shifts · 2021: 22 in 24 shifts · 2022: 26 in 24 shifts · 2023: 14 in 12 shifts · 2024: 19 in 18 shifts · 2025: 3 in 8 shifts · 2026: 8 in 9 shifts.

Kind of question

SHARE OF QUESTIONS
  • Calculation23%
  • Numerical answer18%
  • Multi-step15%
  • Application13%
  • Conceptual12%
  • Recall, single correct7%
  • Match the list7%
  • Two statements3%
  • Assertion–reason3%
  • Diagram based1%

Most common asks: vector relation between e and b in em wave (19); force ratio on charge in em wave (2); match list on em spectrum wavelength ranges (2).

Profile

This chapter in numbers

Where it ranks, how steady it is, and what it costs to study.

Rank, all JEE chapters
#53
of 70 by weighted estimate
Rank in Physics
#17
of 28 chapters
Share of Physics
2.9%
of its questions, all shifts analysed
Busiest year
2023
1.0 questions a shift
Year to year
Swings a lot
varies by about 0.3 questions a shift
Long-run direction
+0.06
questions a shift, per year
Easy questions
45%
6% rated hard
Numerical answer
18%
0.6× the Physics rate
With a figure
1%
graph, diagram or structure
Study time
13 h
10 h on a 6-month plan
Marks per study hour
0.24
#25 of 70 chapters
Foundation for others
23%
of its ideas are used in other chapters

Difficulty, year by year

Each question rated easy, medium or hard. Each bar is that year’s split, so years compare directly; the number is the questions in that year’s analysed shifts (1 to 24 shifts a year).

  • 2017
  • 202011
  • 202122
  • 202226
  • 202314
  • 202419
  • 20253
  • 20268
  • Easy
  • Medium
  • Hard

What it asks you to do

SHARE OF QUESTIONS
  • Calculation38%
  • Multi-step17%
  • Conceptual17%
  • Recall15%
  • Application14%

Coverage

How much of the chapter JEE Main has used

We split the chapter into 58 ideas. In the 108 shifts analysed, JEE Main built a question around 4 of them. Most of the chapter has never been the main idea of a question, so past questions alone leave most of it out.

Asked as the main idea
4
Touched on in a question
1
Never asked
53

Topics

What repeats, topic by topic

This chapter's questions per topic in each year's analysed shifts. The number is the count; the shade is scaled to one shift, so a year with more analysed shifts (1 to 24 a year) does not look darker. 88 questions had no close topic in Lumi's map and count for the chapter only.

’17’20’21’22’23’24’25’26
02+questions in that year’s analysed shifts, shaded per shift
  • Parallel Plate Capacitors

    As a topic: 50 questions in 8 of 8 years, most often single correct, 36% numerical answer.

  • Thermal Radiation

    As a topic: 11 questions in 6 of 8 years, most often single correct, 27% numerical answer.

  • Coulomb's Law

    As a topic: 30 questions in 6 of 8 years, most often single correct, 40% numerical answer.

  • Gauss's Law

    As a topic: 29 questions in 7 of 8 years, most often single correct, 31% numerical answer.

Drill down

Topic, idea, question

Open a topic to see every idea JEE Main tested inside it, then open an idea to read the questions. Each row shows its 8 years.

  • Open6 · 6%22

    1 idea inside

    • OpenRepeated6 · 100%22
  • Open3 · 3%
  • Open1 · 1%
  • Open1 · 1%
  • Open1 · 1%
  • Open1 · 1%
  • Open1 · 1%
  • Open1 · 1%

Squares are the 8 years with analysed shifts, 2017 to 2026. A number is the questions that year when there is more than one; the shade is scaled to one shift, so a year with more analysed shifts (1 to 24 a year) does not look darker. Share is of the level above.

Ideas

The exact ideas JEE Main has asked

Inside the topics, 3 different ideas were tested; 2 came more than once. These are the repeats, then the ideas new since 2024.

Dots are the 8 years with analysed shifts, 2017 to 2026.

Every question

All 103 Electromagnetic Waves questions

Newest first, shift by shift. The newest 40 show their opening words; older ones name the idea they tested. Each opens with its options and the official answer.

JEE Main 20268 questions

  1. 2 Apr 2026, Shift 1 · Q43An electromagnetic wave travelling in xx-direction is described by field equation Ey=300sin⁡ω(t−xc)E_y=300\sin\omega\left(t-\frac{x}{c}\right). If the…MediumSingle correct
  2. 2 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q37An electromagnetic wave travels in free space along the xx-direction. At a particular point in space and time,…MediumSingle correct
  3. 4 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q40A magnetic field vector in an electromagnetic wave is represented by B⃗=B0sin⁡(2πvt−2πxλ) j^\vec B=B_0\sin\left(2\pi vt-\frac{2\pi x}{\lambda}\right)\,\hat j.…MediumSingle correct
  4. 5 Apr 2026, Shift 1 · Q37A displacement current of 4.0 A can be set up in the space between two parallel plates of 6 μ6\ \muF capacitor. The rate of change of…EasySingle correct
  5. 5 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q39Given below are two statements : one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A) : The…EasyAssertion–reason
  6. 6 Apr 2026, Shift 1 · Q40A point light source emits E.M. waves in free space. A detector, placed at a distance of LL m, measures the intensity as I0I_0. The…EasySingle correct
  7. 6 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q31For an electromagnetic wave propagating through vacuum, k⃗\vec{k}, E⃗\vec{E} and ω\omega represent propagation vector, electric field and…MediumSingle correct
  8. 8 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q38A monochromatic source of light operating at 15 kW emits 2.5×10222.5 \times 10^{22} photons/s. The region of an electromagnetic spectrum to…MediumSingle correct

JEE Main 20253 questions

  1. 3 Apr 2025, Shift 1 · Q40The radiation pressure exerted by a 450 W light source on a perfectly reflecting surface placed at 2m away from it, isMediumSingle correct
  2. 4 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q47If an optical medium possesses a relative permeability of 10π\frac{10}{\pi} and relative permittivity of 10.0885\frac{1}{0.0885}, then the…MediumNumerical value
  3. 7 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q39The unit of 2Iϵ0c\sqrt{\frac{2I}{\epsilon_0 c}} is : (II = intensity of an electromagnetic wave, cc : speed of light)MediumSingle correct

JEE Main 202419 questions

  1. 4 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q44The electric field in an electromagnetic wave is given by E⃗=i^ 40cos⁡ω(t−zc)N C−1\vec{E} = \hat{i}\ 40\cos\omega\left(t - \frac{z}{c}\right)\mathrm{N\,C^{-1}}.…EasySingle correct
  2. 4 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q45Arrange the following in the ascending order of wavelength: A. Gamma rays (λ1\lambda_1) B. x - rays (λ2\lambda_2) C. Infrared waves…EasyOther
  3. 5 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q45An alternating voltage of amplitude 40 V and frequency 4 kHz is applied directly across the capacitor of 12 μF12\ \mu\mathrm{F}. The maximum…EasySingle correct
  4. 5 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q44Match List-I with List-II : List-I (EM-Wave) List-II (Wavelength Range) (A) Infra-red (I) <10−3<10^{-3} nm (B) Ultraviolet (II) 400 nm to 1…EasyMatch the list
  5. 6 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q39Electromagnetic waves travel in a medium with speed of 1.5×1081.5\times10^8 m s−1^{-1}. The relative permeability of the medium is 2.0. The…EasySingle correct
  6. 6 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q45In the given electromagnetic wave Ey=600sin⁡(ωt−kx) Vm−1E_y=600\sin(\omega t-kx)\ \mathrm{Vm^{-1}}, intensity of the associated light beam is (in…MediumSingle correct
  7. 8 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q42Average force exerted on a non-reflecting surface at normal incidence is 2.4×10−42.4\times10^{-4} N. If 360 W/cm2^2 is the light energy flux…MediumSingle correct
  8. 9 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q42Given below are two statements : Statement (I) : When currents vary with time, Newton's third law is valid only if momentum carried by the…HardTwo statements
  9. 9 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q44A plane EM wave is propagating along xx direction. It has a wavelength of 44 mm. If electric field is in yy direction with the maximum…MediumSingle correct
  10. 9 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q50The magnetic field in a plane electromagnetic wave is By=(3.5×10−7)sin⁡(1.5×103x+0.5×1011t)TB_y=(3.5\times10^{-7})\sin(1.5\times10^3x+0.5\times10^{11}t)\mathrm{T}. The…MediumSingle correct
  11. 1 Feb 2024, Shift 1 · Q44A parallel plate capacitor has a capacitance C = 200 pF. It is connected to 230 V ac supply with an angular frequency 300 rad/s. The rms…MediumSingle correct
  12. 1 Feb 2024, Shift 2 · Q44If frequency of electromagnetic wave is 60 MHz and it travels in air along zz direction then the corresponding electric and magnetic…EasySingle correct
  13. 27 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q44A plane electromagnetic wave propagating in xx-direction is described by Ey=(200 Vm−1)sin⁡[1.5×107t−0.05 x]E_y = (200\ \mathrm{Vm^{-1}})\sin[1.5\times10^{7}t - 0.05\,x];…MediumSingle correct
  14. 29 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q44Match List I with List II LIST I A. ∮B⃗⋅dl⃗=μoic+μoεodϕEdt\oint\vec{B}\cdot d\vec{l}=\mu_o i_c+\mu_o\varepsilon_o\frac{d\phi_E}{dt} B.…EasyMatch the list
  15. 30 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q44The electric field of an electromagnetic wave in free space is represented as E⃗=E0cos⁡(ωt−kz) i^\vec{E} = E_0\cos(\omega t - kz)\,\hat{i}. The…EasySingle correct
  16. 30 Jan 2024, Shift 2 · Q42Match List I with List II List I | List II A. Gauss's law of magnetostatics | I.…EasyMatch the list
  17. 30 Jan 2024, Shift 2 · Q44If the total energy transferred to a surface in time t is 6.48×105 J6.48\times 10^5\,J, then the magnitude of the total momentum delivered to this…EasySingle correct
  18. 31 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q44In a plane EM wave, the electric field oscillates sinusoidally at a frequency of 5×10105\times10^{10} Hz and an amplitude of 50 Vm−1^{-1}. The…EasySingle correct
  19. 31 Jan 2024, Shift 2 · Q44Given below are two statements: Statement I: Electromagnetic waves carry energy as they travel through space and this energy is equally…EasyTwo statements

JEE Main 202314 questions

  1. 6 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q37For the plane electromagnetic wave given by E=E0sin⁡(ωt−kx)E=E_0\sin(\omega t-kx) and B=B0sin⁡(ωt−kx)B=B_0\sin(\omega t-kx), the ratio of average electric energy…EasySingle correct
  2. 6 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q46The energy density associated with electric field E⃗\vec{E} and magnetic field B⃗\vec{B} of an electromagnetic wave in free space is given…EasySingle correct
  3. 8 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q46Dimension of 1μ0ϵ0\frac{1}{\mu_0 \epsilon_0} should be equal toEasySingle correct
  4. 8 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q42The power radiated from a linear antenna of length ll is proportional to (Given, λ\lambda = Wavelength of wave):HardSingle correct
  5. 8 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q47The waves emitted when a metal target is bombarded with high energy electrons areEasySingle correct
  6. 10 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q48The energy of an electromagnetic wave contained in a small volume oscillates withMediumSingle correct
  7. 10 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q48The amplitude of magnetic field in an electromagnetic wave propagating along y-axis is 6.0×10−76.0\times10^{-7} T. The maximum value of electric…EasySingle correct
  8. 11 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q37The electric field in an electromagnetic wave is given as E⃗=20sin⁡ω(t−xc)j^ NC−1\vec{E} = 20\sin\omega\left(t - \frac{x}{c}\right)\hat{j}\ \mathrm{NC^{-1}}…MediumSingle correct
  9. 11 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q46A plane electromagnetic wave of frequency 20 MHz20\ \mathrm{MHz} propagates in free space along x-direction. At a particular space and time,…MediumSingle correct
  10. 12 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q50Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R Assertion A : EM waves used for…EasyAssertion–reason
  11. 13 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q42Open the question · Medium · Single correct
  12. 13 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q43Open the question · Medium · Other
  13. 13 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q45Open the question · Easy · Single correct
  14. 15 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q47Open the question · Easy · Match the list

JEE Main 202226 questions

  1. 25 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q39Open the question · Easy · Single correct
  2. 26 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q32Open the question · Easy · Single correct
  3. 26 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q36Open the question · Medium · Single correct
  4. 26 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q36Open the question · Medium · Single correct
  5. 27 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q45Open the question · Medium · Single correct
  6. 27 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q45Open the question · Medium · Other
  7. 28 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q45Open the question · Easy · Diagram based · has a figure
  8. 28 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q15Thermal Radiation Pressure · Medium · Single correct
  9. 29 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q45Open the question · Easy · Match the list
  10. 29 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q52Open the question · Easy · Numerical value
  11. 30 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q13Open the question · Easy · Single correct
  12. 24 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q43Open the question · Medium · Single correct
  13. 24 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q47Open the question · Medium · Single correct
  14. 24 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q52Open the question · Medium · Numerical value
  15. 25 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q42Open the question · Easy · Single correct
  16. 25 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q43Open the question · Easy · Single correct
  17. 26 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q45Open the question · Medium · Single correct
  18. 26 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q46Open the question · Medium · Single correct
  19. 26 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q45Open the question · Easy · Single correct
  20. 27 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q42Open the question · Easy · Match the list
  21. 27 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q45Open the question · Easy · Two statements
  22. 28 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q41Open the question · Medium · Single correct
  23. 28 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q45Open the question · Medium · Single correct
  24. 29 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q52Open the question · Medium · Numerical value
  25. 29 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q56Displacement Current Between Plates · Medium · Numerical value
  26. 30 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q44Open the question · Easy · Single correct

JEE Main 202122 questions

  1. 3 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q19Open the question · Easy · Assertion–reason
  2. 3 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q21Open the question · Medium · Numerical value
  3. 4 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q28Displacement Current Between Plates · Easy · Numerical value
  4. 26 Aug 2021, Shift 1 · Q26Open the question · Hard · Numerical value
  5. 26 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q11Open the question · Medium · Single correct
  6. 27 Aug 2021, Shift 1 · Q15Open the question · Easy · Single correct
  7. 27 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q28Open the question · Easy · Numerical value
  8. 31 Aug 2021, Shift 1 · Q29Open the question · Medium · Numerical value
  9. 31 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q13Open the question · Hard · Single correct
  10. 24 Feb 2021, Shift 1 · Q29Open the question · Easy · Numerical value
  11. 24 Feb 2021, Shift 2 · Q13Open the question · Easy · Match the list
  12. 24 Feb 2021, Shift 2 · Q29Open the question · Easy · Numerical value
  13. 24 Feb 2021, Shift 2 · Q30Open the question · Easy · Numerical value
  14. 25 Feb 2021, Shift 2 · Q28Open the question · Medium · Numerical value
  15. 26 Feb 2021, Shift 1 · Q26Open the question · Medium · Numerical value
  16. 22 Jul 2021, Shift 2 · Q17Open the question · Medium · Single correct
  17. 25 Jul 2021, Shift 1 · Q10Open the question · Medium · Single correct
  18. 17 Mar 2021, Shift 1 · Q22Open the question · Medium · Numerical value
  19. 17 Mar 2021, Shift 2 · Q24Open the question · Easy · Numerical value
  20. 17 Mar 2021, Shift 2 · Q25Displacement Current Between Plates · Hard · Numerical value
  21. 18 Mar 2021, Shift 1 · Q19Open the question · Medium · Single correct
  22. 18 Mar 2021, Shift 2 · Q19Open the question · Easy · Single correct

JEE Main 202011 questions

  1. 8 Jan 2020, Shift 2 · Q15Open the question · Medium · Single correct
  2. 9 Jan 2020, Shift 1 · Q14Lorentz Force Vector Summation · Hard · Single correct
  3. 9 Jan 2020, Shift 2 · Q16Open the question · Medium · Single correct
  4. 2 Sep 2020, Shift 1 · Q15Open the question · Medium · Single correct
  5. 2 Sep 2020, Shift 2 · Q15Open the question · Medium · Single correct
  6. 3 Sep 2020, Shift 1 · Q16Open the question · Medium · Single correct
  7. 3 Sep 2020, Shift 2 · Q15Open the question · Medium · Single correct
  8. 4 Sep 2020, Shift 1 · Q16Open the question · Easy · Single correct
  9. 4 Sep 2020, Shift 2 · Q16Open the question · Medium · Single correct
  10. 5 Sep 2020, Shift 1 · Q16Open the question · Medium · Single correct
  11. 6 Sep 2020, Shift 2 · Q16Open the question · Medium · Single correct

Questions from the official JEE Main papers published by NTA. Chapter, topic and idea tags, counts and notes are Lumi’s. Pattern: Asked most years.

More Physics, Class 12

All JEE Main chaptersJEE Main Physics analysisStudy plan