Force on a Moving Charge
 

Force on a Moving Charge problem 12


An electron is travelling in a vacuum at a speed of . The electron enters a region of uniform magnetic field of flux density , as illustrated in the figure below.




The initial direction of the electron is at an angle of to the direction of the magnetic field.


  • When the electron enters the magnetic field, the component of its velocity normal to the direction of the magnetic field causes the electron to begin to follow a circular path. Calculate:




    • the radius of this circular path.


  • State the magnitude of the force, if any, on the electron in the magnetic field due to the component of its velocity along the direction of the field.


  • Use information from (a) and (b) to describe the resultant path of the electron in the magnetic field.


 

main author and content editor: Ebenezer Famadewa