- #1
gokuls
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How could you tell whether moving electrons in a certain region of space are being deflected by an electric field or by a magnetic field (or both)?
The answer from the textbook is:
If the moving electrons are changing speed as they are being deflected, then an electric field is present. This will be the case whether or not a magnetic field exists in the same region of space. If the moving electrons are being deflected but they are not changing speed, then only a magnetic field is present.
I don't understand this explanation, why would the speed only change in an electric field, but not in a magnetic field?
Thanks,
The answer from the textbook is:
If the moving electrons are changing speed as they are being deflected, then an electric field is present. This will be the case whether or not a magnetic field exists in the same region of space. If the moving electrons are being deflected but they are not changing speed, then only a magnetic field is present.
I don't understand this explanation, why would the speed only change in an electric field, but not in a magnetic field?
Thanks,