How Do You Solve Particle Motion Equations in an Electromagnetic Field?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on solving particle motion equations in an electromagnetic field using the Lorentz force equation, F=qE + qvxB. The user is attempting to derive the motion equations for a charged particle under constant electric and magnetic fields but is stuck on how to proceed after establishing the initial equations. Key points include recognizing that the magnetic field strength should be referred to simply as "B," and that the last equation for dvz/dt can be solved directly since it is independent of the other components. The suggested approach involves differentiating the first equation to express dvy/dt and substituting it into the second equation to derive a second-order differential equation. The conversation emphasizes the importance of correctly manipulating these equations to find a solution.
akinoshigure
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So I'm stuck on the second part of this problem and really don't know hwere to go from here... let me type it up and show where I got stuck at.

3. The motion of particle of chage q in an electromagnetic field is governed by the Lorentz force (for low velocities v<<c): F=qE + qvxB.
With both constant B=B k and E=Ey j + Ez K show that:
z(t)=z(sub-o)+v(sub-zo)t+qE(sub-z)t^2/2m
vx(t)=Asin(omega-t)+E(sub-y)/B
vx(t)=+Acos(omega-t)

I did F=qE+qVxB=m (dv/dt)

dvx/dt= q/m(vyBz)
dvy/dt= q/m(Ey-vxBo)
dvz/dt= q/m (Ez)

I think I'm suppose to now take a second derivative and find the second order differential equation but I'm not too sure how to approach that.
 
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akinoshigure said:
So I'm stuck on the second part of this problem and really don't know hwere to go from here... let me type it up and show where I got stuck at.

3. The motion of particle of chage q in an electromagnetic field is governed by the Lorentz force (for low velocities v<<c): F=qE + qvxB.
With both constant B=B k and E=Ey j + Ez K show that:
z(t)=z(sub-o)+v(sub-zo)t+qE(sub-z)t^2/2m
vx(t)=Asin(omega-t)+E(sub-y)/B
vx(t)=+Acos(omega-t)

I did F=qE+qVxB=m (dv/dt)

dvx/dt= q/m(vyBz)
dvy/dt= q/m(Ey-vxBo)
dvz/dt= q/m (Ez)
One slight error here: the strength of the magnetic field is just "B", not
"Bz" or "Bo".

I think I'm suppose to now take a second derivative and find the second order differential equation but I'm not too sure how to approach that.
What you are "supposed" to do is solve those equations. Since the last one (for dvz/dt) does not involve the other two components, you can solve it directly. The other two are "entwined". One method of solving a pair of equations is to differentiate the first (so that you have dvy/dt on the right side) and then replace dvy/dt from the second equation. That will give you one second order differential equation for vx/
 
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