A charged particle moves in a magnetic field. What is the effect of the magnetic field on the particle's speed?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
A charged particle moves in a magnetic field. What is the effect of the magnetic field on the particle's speed?
Increases speed
Decreases speed
No effect on speed
Reverses speed
The magnetic field exerts a force perpendicular to the velocity of the charged particle, which does not change its speed but alters its direction.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: A charged particle moves in a magnetic field. What is the effect of the magnetic field on the particle's speed?
Solution: The magnetic field exerts a force perpendicular to the velocity of the charged particle, which does not change its speed but alters its direction.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Understand that a charged particle is a particle with an electric charge, like an electron or proton.
Step 2: Recognize that a magnetic field is an area around a magnet where magnetic forces can be felt.
Step 3: Know that when a charged particle moves through a magnetic field, it experiences a force.
Step 4: This force is always perpendicular (at a right angle) to the direction the particle is moving.
Step 5: Since the force is perpendicular, it does not speed up or slow down the particle; it only changes the direction of the particle's movement.
Step 6: Therefore, the speed of the charged particle remains constant while its direction changes.
