Orientation Q: Plane Wave Propagation in Air

[WolfOfTheSteps]

Homework Statement

A 150MHz sinusoidal plane wave propagates in air at 30 degrees with respect to the +x-axis in the x-y plane. The E-Field is polarized parallel to the plane of incidence and has a magnitude of 2 V/m.

The Attempt at a Solution

My only question is about the orientation. I can't figure out how to draw the picture! Click on the image below to see what I have now. Is one of these orientations correct?

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/4291/questionspicex7.th.jpg Thanks!

 

[esalihm]

there isn't anything given in the question to indicate that.

but because of the normal way we choose to represent the angles (CCW starting from the +x axis) I would choose to fo 30 degrees N of E

 

[m2003]

Thank you for your question. The orientation of the wave in the image you provided is not correct. The correct orientation for a 150MHz plane wave propagating in air at 30 degrees with respect to the +x-axis in the x-y plane would be a wave traveling in the direction of the +x-axis, with the electric field vector pointing in the direction of the +y-axis. This can be represented by a vector diagram, where the electric field vector is shown as a line perpendicular to the direction of propagation. I have provided a diagram below for reference.



I hope this helps to clarify the orientation of the wave. Please let me know if you have any further questions.