Force on an electron in a magnetic field

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the force on an electron moving in a magnetic field, specifically using the equation F=qvBsinθ. The original poster presents a velocity vector and a magnetic field vector, along with their calculated force, and questions the sign of the result in relation to the electron's charge.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to understand why the calculated force does not reflect the negative charge of the electron. Participants inquire about the details of the cross product calculation and the implications of the charge's sign on the result.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the original poster's calculations, with some confirming the correctness of the work while others suggest seeking clarification from the professor. There is an acknowledgment of potential errors in the professor's provided answer, indicating a lack of consensus on the correctness of the solution.

Contextual Notes

The original poster mentions the difficulty of learning the topic due to potential typos in the professor's materials, highlighting the challenges faced in understanding the subject matter.

chopnhack
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Homework Statement


What is the force on an electron with a velocity v = (2i – 3j) Mms-1 in a magnetic field B = (0.8i +
0.6j – 0.4k) T

Homework Equations


F=qvBsinθ

The Attempt at a Solution


using cross product I got: (1.92i + 1.28j + 5.77k)10^-13 N which is the listed correct answer.

My question is since this was an electron, why the value wasn't negative 1.92i, etc. Wouldn't the charge have contributed to the direction? Can someone please explain this to me?
Thanks
 
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The sign of q in the vector qvB contributes to the sign of the cross product answer...Can you show your work including the calculation of the cross product?
 
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berkeman said:
The sign of q in the vector qvB contributes to the sign of the cross product answer...Can you show your work including the calculation of the cross product?
sure
solution.jpg
 
Yeah, your work and your answer with the "-" signs looks right to me. You are saying that the "+" answer is listed as the correct answer?
 
berkeman said:
Yeah, your work and your answer with the "-" signs looks right to me. You are saying that the "+" answer is listed as the correct answer?
Yes, but the professor has been known to make mistakes.
 
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Does he/she have office hours before this is due? Show them your work and ask politely if you've missed anything...?
 
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berkeman said:
Does he/she have office hours before this is due? Show them your work and ask politely if you've missed anything...?
I have done just that. Hopefully I can get a clarification. It's very difficult to learn magnetism while correcting typos!
Thank you!
 
You're welcome. Just keep doing the math, and you should be fine. :smile:
 
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