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QPage 338: Q3: HC Verma: Concepts of Physics - Volume 2 Electromagnetic Waves Page 338: Q3 Solution: Can an electromagnetic wave be deflected by an electric field…

⚠️ Common Exam Traps & Conceptual Pitfalls

Students often treat a light beam as a charged particle and try to use $F = q(\mathbf{E}+\mathbf{v}\times\mathbf{B})$, overlooking that photons have $q=0$ and an electromagnetic wave carries no net charge, so external static $\mathbf{E}$ or $\mathbf{B}$ fields exert no direct force on it; only a material medium can mediate indirect effects such as polarization rotation.

Can an electromagnetic wave be deflected by an electric field or a magnetic field?

Step-by-Step Verified Solution

**Answer:** No, an electromagnetic wave cannot be deflected by an electric field or a magnetic field. **Step-by-Step Explanation:** An electromagnetic wave is an oscillation of electric and magnetic fields propagating through space. It does not carry any net electric charge, so it does not experience a force in an external electric or magnetic field. Even considering its particle nature, photons are electrically neutral and are not deflected by such fields [citation:12].

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