A charged particle moves in a magnetic field. What is the nature of the force acting on it?
Practice Questions
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Q1
A charged particle moves in a magnetic field. What is the nature of the force acting on it?
Always in the direction of motion
Always opposite to the direction of motion
Perpendicular to the direction of motion
Depends on the charge of the particle
The magnetic force on a charged particle moving in a magnetic field is given by the Lorentz force law, which states that the force is perpendicular to both the velocity of the particle and the magnetic field.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
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Q
Q: A charged particle moves in a magnetic field. What is the nature of the force acting on it?
Solution: The magnetic force on a charged particle moving in a magnetic field is given by the Lorentz force law, which states that the force is perpendicular to both the velocity of the particle and the magnetic field.
Steps: 7
Step 1: Understand that a charged particle is something like an electron or proton that has an electric charge.
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 called the magnetic force.
Step 5: The direction of the magnetic force is not in the same direction as the particle's movement or the magnetic field.
Step 6: Instead, the magnetic force is always at a right angle (90 degrees) to both the direction the particle is moving and the direction of the magnetic field.
Step 7: This relationship is described by something called the Lorentz force law.