Components of force of 2 moving charges

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the components of the force acting on a moving charge ##e'## due to another moving charge ##e##, both traveling with constant velocity ##\vec{v}##. The magnetic field generated by charge ##e## is described by the equation ##\vec{B}=\frac{\mu_0 e}{4\pi}\frac{\vec{v}\times\vec{r}}{r^3}##. The participant expresses uncertainty about whether to consider both electric and magnetic contributions to the force or just the magnetic. They conclude that the force on charge ##e'## is zero due to the parallel nature of the velocities, indicating a need for further clarification on the situation's geometry and force calculations.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of classical electromagnetism principles
  • Familiarity with the Lorentz force law
  • Knowledge of vector calculus, particularly cross products
  • Basic concepts of magnetic fields generated by moving charges
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  • Study the Lorentz force law in detail, focusing on its application to moving charges
  • Learn about the derivation and implications of the Biot-Savart law
  • Investigate the concept of electric and magnetic fields in different reference frames
  • Explore the mathematical techniques for decomposing forces into parallel and normal components
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Students of physics, particularly those studying electromagnetism, as well as educators seeking to clarify concepts related to forces on moving charges.

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Homework Statement



A particle with charge ##e## and position vector ##\vec{r}## (relative to some frame, S) moves with constant velocity ##\vec{v}##. A second charge ##e'## is moving with the same velocity ##\vec{v}## through the field generated by ##e##. If ##\vec{d}## is a vector from ##e## to ##e'## find the components of the force on ##e'## parallel to and normal to ##\vec{d}##.

Homework Equations



We can assume the velocities involved are far less than the speed of light, thus:

##\vec{B}=\frac{\mu_0 e}{4\pi}\frac{\vec{v}\times\vec{r}}{r^3}##.

The Attempt at a Solution



This is a previous exam question and the above equation is all that is given. So I'm not sure whether they would like us to calculate the magnetic and electric contributions to the force or just the magnetic. Also I am assuming that they mean the second charge is moving with velocity ##\vec{v}## relative to the first charge. This is how I imagine the geometry of the situation:

2 moving charges.png


The velocity of ##e'## with respect to ##e## is: ##\vec{v}_{e'e}=\dot{\vec{d}}=\dot{\vec{r}'}-\dot{\vec{r}}=2\vec{v}-\vec{v}=\vec{v}##
The magnetic field of ##e## in the rest frame of ##e'## is: ##\vec{B}_{ee'}=\frac{\mu_0 e}{4\pi}\frac{\vec{(-v)}\times\vec{d}}{d^3}##. Or do I use the magnetic field of ##e## in the frame S?
Thus the force on ##e'## due to the magnetic field of ##e## is ##\vec{F}_{mag}=\frac{e'e\mu_0}{4\pi}\vec{v}_{e'e}\times\frac{\vec{(-v)}\times\vec{d}}{d^3}##. But ##\vec{v}_{e'e}## is parallel to ##\vec{v}## so the cross product is zero. I must be thinking about the situation wrong since there should be a non-zero force.

Also, when I do eventually find the force, do I find the normal and parallel components by taking the scalar product of the total force with the normal and parallel vectors?
 

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Why do you think it the force should be zero? Many effects would be against our intuition, that at least in this case I think the theory doesn't tell us like this.
 

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