Question

A particle has a charge of q = +4.9 μC and is located at the origin. As the drawing shows, an electric field of Ex = +242 N/C exists along the +x axis. A magnetic field also exists, and its x and y components are Bx = +1.9 T and By = +1.9 T. Calculate the force (magnitude and direction) exerted on the particle by each of the three fields when it is (a) stationary, (b) moving along the +x axis at a speed of 345 m/s, and (c) moving along the +z axis at a speed of 345 m/s.

Answer 1

a)

$F_{E_x}=1.19\cdot 10^{-3}N$ (+x axis)

$F_{B_x}=0$

$F_{B_y}=0$

b)

$F_{E_x}=1.19\cdot 10^{-3} N$ (+x axis)

$F_{B_x}=0$

$F_{B_y}=3.21\cdot 10^{-3}N$ (+z axis)

c)

$F_{E_x}=1.19\cdot 10^{-3} N$ (+x axis)

$F_{B_x}=3.21\cdot 10^{-3} N$ (+y axis)

$F_{B_y}=3.21\cdot 10^{-3}N$ (-x axis)

Explanation:

a)

The electric force exerted on a charged particle is given by

$F=qE$

where

q is the charge

E is the electric field

For a positive charge, the direction of the force is the same as the electric field.

In this problem:

$q=+4.9\mu C=+4.9\cdot 10^{-6}C$ is the charge

$E_x=+242 N/C$ is the electric field, along the x-direction

So the electric force (along the x-direction) is:

$F_{E_x}=(4.9\cdot 10^{-6})(242)=1.19\cdot 10^{-3} N$

towards positive x-direction.

The magnetic force instead is given by

$F=qvB sin \theta$

where

q is the charge

v is the velocity of the charge

B is the magnetic field

$\theta$ is the angle between the directions of v and B

Here the charge is stationary: this means $v=0$, therefore the magnetic force due to each component of the magnetic field is zero.

b)

In this case, the particle is moving along the +x axis.

The magnitude of the electric force does not depend on the speed: therefore, the electric force on the particle here is the same as in part a,

$F_{E_x}=1.19\cdot 10^{-3} N$ (towards positive x-direction)

Concerning the magnetic force, we have to analyze the two different fields:

- $B_x$: this field is parallel to the velocity of the particle, which is moving along the +x axis. Therefore, $\theta=0^{\circ}$, so the force due to this field is zero.

$- B_y$: this field is perpendicular to the velocity of the particle, which is moving along the +x axis. Therefore, $\theta=90^{\circ}$. Therefore, $\theta=90^{\circ}$, so the force due to this field is:

$F_{B_y}=qvB_y$

where:

$q=+4.9\cdot 10^{-6}C$ is the charge

$v=345 m/s$ is the velocity

$B_y = +1.9 T$ is the magnetic field

Substituting,

$F_{B_y}=(4.9\cdot 10^{-6})(345)(1.9)=3.21\cdot 10^{-3} N$

And the direction of this force can be found using the right-hand rule:

- Index finger: direction of the velocity (+x axis)

- Middle finger: direction of the magnetic field (+y axis)

- Thumb: direction of the force (+z axis)

c)

As in part b), the electric force has not change, since it does not depend on the veocity of the particle:

$F_{E_x}=1.19\cdot 10^{-3}N$ (+x axis)

For the field $B_x$, the velocity (+z axis) is now perpendicular to the magnetic field (+x axis), so the force is

$F_{B_x}=qvB_x$

And by substituting,

$F_{B_x}=(4.9\cdot 10^{-6})(345)(1.9)=3.21\cdot 10^{-3} N$

And by using the right-hand rule:

- Index finger: velocity (+z axis)

- Middle finger: magnetic field (+x axis)

- Thumb: force (+y axis)

For the field $B_y$, the velocity (+z axis) is also perpendicular to the magnetic field (+y axis), so the force is

$F_{B_y}=qvB_y$

And by substituting,

$F_{B_y}=(4.9\cdot 10^{-6})(345)(1.9)=3.21\cdot 10^{-3} N$

And by using the right-hand rule:

- Index finger: velocity (+z axis)

- Middle finger: magnetic field (+y axis)

- Thumb: force (-y axis)