Charged particle in a cloud chamber?

AI Thread Summary
When a charged particle enters a magnetic field in a cloud chamber, it moves in a circular path due to the magnetic force acting as a centripetal force. This force is always perpendicular to the particle's velocity, which continuously alters its direction. The right-hand rule can be used to determine the orientation of this force. As a result, instead of traveling in a straight line, the charged particle follows a curved trajectory. Understanding these principles is essential for grasping the behavior of charged particles in magnetic fields.
chem_is_lovex
Messages
30
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


when a charged particle enters a magnetic field in a cloud chamber, why does it move in a circular path instead of straight line? I have no idea why. please help


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


it has something to do with the r changing? as I said, I have no idea.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
chem_is_lovex said:

Homework Statement


when a charged particle enters a magnetic field in a cloud chamber, why does it move in a circular path instead of straight line? I have no idea why. please help


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


it has something to do with the r changing? as I said, I have no idea.

Do you know the rules governing moving charges in uniform B fields and how the direction of the Force is oriented? Some use the right hand rule? Is this familiar?
 
As pgardn mentions above, a magnetic field interacts with a charged particle in quite a peculiar way. Similar to a ball being spun on a string, the magnetic field exerts a centripetal force to the component of the charge's velocity that is perpendicular to the field (whew. that sounded like a lot to digest!). What this basically means is that the magnetic force exerted on the charge always alters the charge's path, making it move in a circular path instead of a straight line.
 
Thread 'Struggling to make relation between elastic force and height'

Thread 'Struggling to make relation between elastic force and height'

Hello guys this is what I tried so far. I used the UTS to calculate the force it needs when the rope tears. My idea was to make a relationship/ function that would give me the force depending on height. Yeah i couldnt find a way to solve it. I also thought about how I could use hooks law (how it was given to me in my script) with the thought of instead of having two part of a rope id have one singular rope from the middle to the top where I could find the difference in height. But the...
View full post »
Thread 'Voltmeter readings for this circuit with switches'

Thread 'Voltmeter readings for this circuit with switches'

TL;DR Summary: I would like to know the voltmeter readings on the two resistors separately in the picture in the following cases , When one of the keys is closed When both of them are opened (Knowing that the battery has negligible internal resistance) My thoughts for the first case , one of them must be 12 volt while the other is 0 The second case we'll I think both voltmeter readings should be 12 volt since they are both parallel to the battery and they involve the key within what the...
View full post »

Similar threads

Creating a Cloud Chamber for Deflecting Charged Particles
Replies
17
Views
5K
I Positron discovery in cloud chamber, how so?
Replies
3
Views
2K
Motion of a Charged Particle in Magnetic Field
Replies
2
Views
2K
Rocket momentum through a cloud of particles
Replies
1
Views
2K
I Concentrated arcs in bubble chamber photos
Replies
2
Views
2K
How to Derive Momentum Equations for Alpha Particles in Collisions?
Replies
5
Views
3K
Do we assume the mixing chamber has an outlet?
Replies
3
Views
2K
Moving charge deflected by a loop of wire
Replies
1
Views
737
Induction confusion for induced charge inside a metal conductor
Replies
23
Views
976
I What are these directional energetic particles?
Replies
4
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top