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When the magnetic force acts on a charged particle, change occurs in:

Correct answer: C. Only the direction of velocity

  • A. Magnitude of velocity only
  • B. Magnitude and direction of velocity
  • C. Only the direction of velocity
  • D. Neither direction nor magnitude of velocity

Explanation

The magnetic force acts on a charged particle moving in a magnetic field, which is given by the equation F = q(v × B), where F is the magnetic force, q is the charge, v is the velocity, and B is the magnetic field. The force is always perpendicular to both the velocity of the particle and the magnetic field, which results in a change in the particle's direction of motion but not its speed. Thus, the correct answer is that only the direction of velocity changes. Option A is incorrect because it suggests that only the magnitude changes, which is not the case. Option B incorrectly states that both magnitude and direction change, which also does not happen. Option D is incorrect because it ignores the directional change caused by the magnetic force.

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About Electromagnetism

Magnetic flux density and magnetic flux describe the strength of a magnetic field and the field passing through a surface. A charged particle moving through a magnetic field experiences a force perpendicular to its velocity and may follow circular or helical motion, depending on the angle between velocity and field.

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