Deflection of bullet by Earth's magnetic field

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the deflection of a bullet in Earth's magnetic field, specifically a bullet weighing 0.0034 kg, traveling at 160 m/s, with a charge of 13.5E-9 C in a magnetic field of 5E-5 T. The initial calculations involved determining the radius of the circular path using the formula r = mv/qB, resulting in a radius of 8.1E11 m. The angle of deflection was then calculated using the arc length of 1000 m divided by the radius. The participant was advised to apply the Lorentz magnetic force law to find the bullet's acceleration for a more accurate deflection calculation.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Lorentz force law
  • Familiarity with circular motion equations
  • Knowledge of basic physics concepts such as mass, charge, and magnetic fields
  • Ability to perform trigonometric calculations
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  • Study the application of the Lorentz force law in charged particle motion
  • Learn about circular motion and its relation to magnetic fields
  • Explore advanced trigonometric methods for calculating deflection
  • Investigate the effects of varying magnetic field strengths on charged particles
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Physics students, educators, and anyone interested in the dynamics of charged particles in magnetic fields will benefit from this discussion.

jkulier
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Homework Statement



A 0.0034kg bullet moves with a speed of 160 m/s perpendicular to the Earth's magnetic field of 5E-5 T. If the bullet has a net charge of 13.5E-9 C, by what distance is it deflected due to the magnetic field after it has traveled 1000m?

Homework Equations



radius = mv/qB
theta = arc length/radius

The Attempt at a Solution



First, I found the radius of the circle via: r = (mv)/qB = 8.1E11

Next, I found theta using the arc length of the circle traveled by the bullet divided by the radius of that circle: theta = arc/radius = 1000/8.1E11

Finally, to find the distance it's deflected, I used the triangle approach: tan(theta) = x/1000

However, my answer is incorrect. Any ideas would be great,
thanks in advance.
 
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Just wondering why you wouldn't apply the Lorentz magnetic force law to identify the acceleration the bullet would be subjected to and than apply that to figure deflection?
 

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