An electromagnetic wave traveling through space encounters an electron sitting at rest. Upon being hit by the wave, which way will the electron move?

A. It will bob up and down with the crests and troughs

B. It'll be pushed entirely along the direction the wave is moving (perpendicular to the crests and troughs)

C. It won't move at all

D. It'll both bob up and down and be pushed along the direction the wave is moving

D) True. Explain the oscillation and movement in the direction of the wave

Explanation:

To review the possible answers, let's look at the characteristics of the electromagnetic wave.

The wave has a fluctuating electric field and magnetic field, perpendicular to its direction of movement, these fields interact with the electron by measuring the electric force

The speed of the wave is perpendicular to the fluctuating fields (transverse wave). This wave exerts a radiation pressure on the particles that it finds, in its path, since it carries energy, this pressure is a force that pushes the direction electron The wave is traveling.

Let's check the answers

A) False. The electron will oscillate with the frequency of the wave, but the movement does not explain the direction of the wave

B) False. It is pushed by the radiation pressure, but does not explain the oscillation of the electron

C) False. Does it move

D) True. Explain the oscillation and movement in the direction of the wave