JEE Main 2026 — Dual Nature of Matter Question with Solution
JEE Main 2026 (05 April Shift 2)
Question
Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): The electromagnetic wave exerts pressure on the surface on which they are allowed to fall.
Reason (R): There is no mass associated with the electromagnetic waves.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below :
Assertion (A): The electromagnetic wave exerts pressure on the surface on which they are allowed to fall.
Reason (R): There is no mass associated with the electromagnetic waves.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below :
Choose an option
Show full solutionCorrect option: B
Correct answer
BBoth (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
Step-by-step explanation
Assertion (A) is true because electromagnetic waves carry energy and momentum. When they strike a surface, they transfer momentum to it, which results in a force and consequently exerts radiation pressure on the surface.
Reason (R) is true because electromagnetic waves consist of photons, which have zero rest mass. Thus, there is no rest mass associated with electromagnetic waves.
However, the pressure exerted by electromagnetic waves is due to the momentum they carry (), not because they are massless. Therefore, both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Answer: Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
Reason (R) is true because electromagnetic waves consist of photons, which have zero rest mass. Thus, there is no rest mass associated with electromagnetic waves.
However, the pressure exerted by electromagnetic waves is due to the momentum they carry (), not because they are massless. Therefore, both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Answer: Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
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This is a previous-year question from JEE Main 2026, covering the Dual Nature of Matter chapter of Physics. PrepSharp catalogues every PYQ from JEE Main with a verified answer key and step-by-step solution prepared by IIT alumni — so you can search by chapter, topic or year and revise efficiently.