Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2004/ib/paper-3/19b/solution

Use the Maxwell curl equations
Dot the first with and the second with , then combine them. The identity gives
This proves the Poynting theorem , with the stated energy density and Poynting vector. The last term is work transferred from the electromagnetic field to matter.
For the specified vacuum wave, substitution into the same curl equations gives and . Thus , and for propagation along positive ,
Putting ,
The equal electric and magnetic contributions account for the factor in . Energy propagates at speed , whose square is ; the reciprocal product is not itself the speed.

New to topics? Read the docs here!