A charged particle entering a uniform magnetic field at right angles to it follows

  • A. a straight line
  • B. a parabola
  • C. a circular path
  • D. a spiral of increasing radius

Explanation

The magnetic force is always perpendicular to the velocity, so it changes direction without changing speed, which is exactly the condition for uniform circular motion. Setting qvB equal to mv squared over r gives a radius of mv over qB, the relation on which the mass spectrometer and the cyclotron depend. A particle entering at an angle follows a helix instead.

Related questions