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jasonrindy
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I was wondering if anybody knows or has any ideas as to why the force on a charge as it moves through a magnetic field is perpendicular to the velocity and field direction. Thanks
A magnetic field is a region in space where a magnetic force is experienced by a magnetic material or a moving electric charge.
When a charged particle enters a magnetic field, it experiences a force perpendicular to both the direction of the particle's motion and the direction of the magnetic field. This force causes the particle to move in a curved path, known as a Lorentz force.
The strength of the magnetic field, the velocity of the charged particle, and the angle between the direction of motion and the direction of the magnetic field all affect the motion of charge in a magnetic field.
No, a magnetic field can only change the direction of a moving charge, not its speed. This is because the magnetic force on a charged particle is always perpendicular to its velocity, so it cannot do work and change the particle's kinetic energy.
Some practical applications include electric motors and generators, particle accelerators, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, and cathode ray tubes (CRTs) used in old televisions and computer monitors.