GATE EC 2018 Set 1 — Question 59
Go beyond PYQs with Success TrackerAI-powered personalised practice and doubt support. Unlimited practice on eligible plans; AI usage limits apply.NAT+2 / -0HardBrewster & Total Internal ReflectionPlane WavesElectromagnetics
Electromagnetics → Plane Waves → Brewster & Total Internal Reflection
Last updated
Question
A uniform plane wave traveling in free space and having the electric fieldis incident on a dielectric medium (relative permittivity , relative permeability ) as shown in the figure and there is no reflected wave.
The relative permittivity (correct to two decimal places) of the dielectric medium is __________.

Correct answer
1.9 to 2.1
Solution
The given electric field is .
Thus, .
The angle of incidence is the angle between and the normal :
.
Then, .
Given medium 1 is free space () and medium 2 is the dielectric ():
.
1.Identify the wave vector ():
From the phase term , we have:Thus, .
2.Calculate the magnitude of ():
.3.Determine the angle of incidence ():
From the diagram, the interface is the -axis (), so the normal to the interface is the -axis (). The angle of incidence is the angle between and the normal :
.
Then, .
4.Identify the polarization:
The plane of incidence is the - plane. The electric field vector also lies in the - plane. Therefore, the wave is parallel polarized (TM wave).5.Apply the Brewster angle condition:
For a parallel polarized wave, there is no reflection when the angle of incidence equals the Brewster angle ():Given medium 1 is free space () and medium 2 is the dielectric ():
.
Continue learning with Success Tracker
A step still unclear? Work through it with support
Use Success Tracker to ask about the reasoning, then try another GATE EC question to check your understanding.
AI-powered practice· Unlimited practice on eligible plans
- PYQs with solutions
- Attempt available previous-year questions, then compare your reasoning with the worked solution. Coverage varies by stream.
- Practice that adapts
- Choose a topic, work on weaker areas and bookmark questions to revisit. Your attempts feed your progress tracking.
- AI doubt support
- Ask follow-up questions about a step or concept while practising, instead of stopping at the final answer.
Unlimited practice is available on eligible plans. Free practice and AI usage have limits; check the current plan allowances before choosing.
This page stays readable without an account. AI responses can be wrong; check them against the solution and source material.
More questions on Plane Waves
2026 Set 1 Q21Consider the Friis' transmission equation , where…2026 Set 1 Q24The electric field of a monochromatic plane wave travelling in a lossless isotropic and homogenous…2026 Set 1 Q28Which option(s) represents/ represent the dielectric loss tangent of a substrate?2026 Set 1 Q33The cutoff frequency (in GHz) for the dominant mode of an air-filled rectangular…2026 Set 1 Q34For a lossless passive two-port network, and intersect at -3 dB. For a lossy…