A charged particle moves in a magnetic field. What is the effect of the magnetic
Practice Questions
Q1
A charged particle moves in a magnetic field. What is the effect of the magnetic field on the particle's motion?
It accelerates the particle
It changes the particle's speed
It changes the particle's direction
It has no effect
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
A charged particle moves in a magnetic field. What is the effect of the magnetic field on the particle's motion?
Correct Answer: Magnetic field changes the direction of the particle's motion.
Step 1: Understand that a charged particle is a particle that has 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.
Step 4: This 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 5: Because the force changes the direction of the particle, it causes the particle to move in a curved path.
Step 6: Importantly, this force does not change the speed of the particle; it only changes the direction.
Lorentz Force – The force experienced by a charged particle in a magnetic field, which is perpendicular to both the velocity of the particle and the magnetic field.
Circular Motion – The motion of the charged particle is circular due to the continuous change in direction caused by the magnetic force.
Speed vs. Velocity – The distinction between speed (magnitude of velocity) and velocity (vector quantity) is important, as the magnetic field does not change the speed of the particle.
