A charged particle moves in a magnetic field. What is the path of the particle?

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Question: A charged particle moves in a magnetic field. What is the path of the particle? (2019)

Options:

Correct Answer: Circular

Exam Year: 2019

Solution:

A charged particle moving in a magnetic field experiences a force that is perpendicular to its velocity, resulting in circular motion.

A charged particle moves in a magnetic field. What is the path of the particle? (2019)

A charged particle moves in a magnetic field. What is the path of the particle? (2019)

Step 1: Understand that a charged particle is a particle with an electric charge, like an electron or proton.
Step 2: Know that a magnetic field is an area around a magnet where magnetic forces can be felt.
Step 3: When a charged particle moves through a magnetic field, it experiences a force called the Lorentz force.
Step 4: This Lorentz force acts at a right angle (perpendicular) to the direction of the particle's velocity.
Step 5: Because the force is always perpendicular to the velocity, it changes the direction of the particle but not its speed.
Step 6: This change in direction causes the particle to move in a circular path.
Step 7: The radius of the circular path depends on the speed of the particle and the strength of the magnetic field.

Magnetic Force on Charged Particles – A charged particle in a magnetic field experiences a force that is perpendicular to both its velocity and the magnetic field, causing it to move in a circular path.
Circular Motion – The motion of the particle is circular due to the constant perpendicular force acting on it, which changes the direction of the velocity but not its magnitude.