Motion of Charged Particles in a Magnetic Field – en

The motion of charged particles in a magnetic field is governed by the Lorentz force, which is the force experienced by a charged particle moving through an electric and magnetic field. The Lorentz force is given by the following equation:

F = q(E + v × B)

Where:

  • F is the Lorentz force vector (N)
  • q is the charge of the particle (C)
  • E is the electric field vector (V/m)
  • v is the velocity vector of the particle (m/s)
  • B is the magnetic field vector (T)
  • × denotes the cross product

In the absence of an electric field (E = 0), the force on a charged particle due to a magnetic field is:

F = q(v × B)

Since the force is always perpendicular to both the velocity and the magnetic field, it does not do any work on the charged particle. As a result, the particle’s kinetic energy remains constant, but its direction of motion changes, leading to curved trajectories.

The motion of charged particles in a magnetic field can be described in terms of three possible scenarios:

  1. If the velocity of the charged particle is parallel or antiparallel to the magnetic field (v ∥ B), the particle is not subjected to any force and moves in a straight line.
  2. If the velocity of the charged particle is perpendicular to the magnetic field (v ⊥ B), the particle experiences a centripetal force, causing it to move in a circular path. The radius (r) of the circular path is given by:

r = (m * v) / (|q| * B)

Where:

  • m is the mass of the particle (kg)
  • v is the magnitude of the particle’s velocity (m/s)
  • |q| is the magnitude of the charge (C)
  • B is the magnitude of the magnetic field (T)
  1. If the velocity of the charged particle is at an angle to the magnetic field, the motion can be decomposed into parallel and perpendicular components. The parallel component (v ∥ B) results in straight-line motion along the field lines, while the perpendicular component (v ⊥ B) causes circular motion around the field lines. The combination of these two motions results in a helical trajectory.

Understanding the motion of charged particles in a magnetic field is essential in many applications, including particle accelerators, mass spectrometry, and the study of cosmic rays and plasmas.

Example – Lorentz Force

Here’s a simple example of the motion of a charged particle in a magnetic field:

Problem: A proton with a speed of 3 x 10^6 m/s enters a uniform magnetic field of 0.5 T, perpendicular to the field lines. Determine the radius of the circular path followed by the proton.

Solution: First, we must identify the relevant parameters for the problem:

  • The charge of a proton (q) is 1.6 x 10^-19 C.
  • The mass of a proton (m) is 1.67 x 10^-27 kg.
  • The magnitude of the magnetic field (B) is 0.5 T.
  • The magnitude of the proton’s velocity (v) is 3 x 10^6 m/s.

Since the velocity is perpendicular to the magnetic field, the proton will move in a circular path. We can calculate the radius (r) of the circular path using the formula:

r = (m * v) / (|q| * B)

Plugging in the values, we get:

r = (1.67 x 10^-27 kg * 3 x 10^6 m/s) / (1.6 x 10^-19 C * 0.5 T) ≈ 6.25 x 10^-3 m

The radius of the circular path followed by the proton is approximately 6.25 mm.

Calculation of Magnetic Fields

Several laws and equations are commonly used for magnetic field calculations, depending on the specific context and the sources of the magnetic field. Some of the most important laws and equations include:

  1. Biot-Savart Law: This law calculates the magnetic field (B) generated by a small segment of a current-carrying wire (Idl). The Biot-Savart Law is particularly useful for calculating the magnetic field around loops and coils of wire.

B = (μ₀ / 4π) * ∫(Idl × r) / r³

Where:

  • B is the magnetic field vector (Tesla, T)
  • μ₀ is the permeability of free space (4π × 10⁻⁷ Tm/A)
  • I is the current (Amperes, A)
  • dl is the differential length vector of the wire (meters, m)
  • r is the position vector from the wire to the point where the magnetic field is being calculated (meters, m)
  • × denotes the cross product
  • ∫ denotes the integration over the wire’s length
  1. Ampere’s Law: Ampere’s Law relates the circulation of the magnetic field (B) around a closed loop to the net current (I) passing through the loop. It is especially useful for calculating the magnetic field in cases with high symmetry, such as straight conductors, solenoids, and toroids.

∮ B • dl = μ₀ * I_enclosed

Where:

  • B is the magnetic field vector (Tesla, T)
  • dl is the differential length vector along the closed loop (meters, m)
  • μ₀ is the permeability of free space (4π × 10⁻⁷ Tm/A)
  • I_enclosed is the net current passing through the loop (Amperes, A)
  • ∮ denotes the line integral around the closed loop
  • • denotes the dot product
  1. Gauss’s Law for Magnetism: Gauss’s Law for Magnetism states that the net magnetic flux through a closed surface is always zero. This is because magnetic fields are created by dipoles (i.e., they have both north and south poles), and the field lines always form closed loops.

∮ B • dA = 0

Where:

  • B is the magnetic field vector (Tesla, T)
  • dA is the differential area vector on the closed surface (square meters, m²)
  • ∮ denotes the surface integral over the closed surface
  • • denotes the dot product

These laws and equations, combined with the properties of specific magnetic materials, can be used to calculate magnetic fields in various scenarios. However, it’s important to note that in more complex situations, numerical methods or specialized software may be required to obtain accurate results.


header - logo

The primary purpose of this project is to help the public to learn some exciting and important information about electricity and magnetism.

Privacy Policy

Our Website follows all legal requirements to protect your privacy. Visit our Privacy Policy page.

The Cookies Statement is part of our Privacy Policy.

Editorial note

The information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. This website does not use any proprietary data. Visit our Editorial note.

Copyright Notice

It’s simple:

1) You may use almost everything for non-commercial and educational use.

2) You may not distribute or commercially exploit the content, especially on another website.