Loading...

Flash Cards

The helical path is the path of the motion of a charged particle when enters at an angle of $\theta$ in a uniform magnetic field $B$. In this short tutorial, we explain the factors that cause this type of motion. On a moving charged particle in a uniform magnetic field, a magnetic force of magnitude $F_B=qvB\,\sin \theta$ is acted where $\theta$ is the angle of velocity vector $v$ with the magnetic field vector $B$. This is the main factor that creates a spiral or helical path.  A charged particle (say, electron) can enter a region filled with uniform $B$ either with right angle $\theta=90^\circ$ or at angle $\theta$. In the former case, its path results in a ci

Read More

The direction of the magnetic force on a moving positively charged particle or a wire carrying current $i$ in a uniform magnetic field is determined by the right-hand rules with different versions stated below.  Version 1 (right-hand rule): point the fingers of your right hand in the direction of $\vec v$ and curl them (through the smaller angle) toward $\vec B$. Your upright thumb shows the cross product $\vec v \times \vec B$ or the magnetic force $\vec F_B$. This force is perpendicular to the plane of $\vec v-\vec B$ Version 2 (right-hand rule): point your fingers in the direction of $\vec B$ so that the thumb points toward the velocity $\vec v$, your palm shows the direct

Read More

The comparison between electric and magnetic forces in physics for high school students is presented briefly.  Definition and formulas: Electric force is repulsion or attraction between two charged objects or particles, moving or at rest, and is calculated by Coulomb’s law with the following formula  \[\vec{F}_E =k\,\frac{|q|\,|q^{'}|}{r^{2}}\,\hat{r}\] where $\hat{r}$ is the unit vector that indicates the direction of the electric force and $r$ is the distance between the two charges. According to Coulomb's law, this force is proportional to the product of the magnitudes of the charges that are $|q|$ and $|q'|$. But magnetic force is a repulsion

Read More