Mass of a particle through a magnetic field

AI Thread Summary
In a mass spectrometer, the mass of a charged particle is determined by its trajectory in a magnetic field. Given a charge of 1.602x10^-19 C, a speed of 2.00x10^5 m/s, and a curvature radius of 20.8 cm in a 100 gauss magnetic field, the mass was initially calculated using the formula r = (mv)/(|q|B). After correcting the magnetic field to 0.01 Tesla, the revised mass calculation yielded 1.67x10^-27 kg. The particle is likely a proton due to its positive charge.
aChordate
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Homework Statement



In a mass spectrometer, the mass of charged objects is inferred from how much their trajectory curves when passed through a perpendicular magnetic field. A particle has a charge of q=1.602x10^-19 C and is traveling at v = 2.00x10^5 m/s in a perpendicular magnetic field of B=100gauss. If the radius of the curvature is found to be 20.8 cm, what is the mass of the particle? & can you identify this particle?


Homework Equations



Fc=mv2/r

The Attempt at a Solution



Fc=m(2.00x10^5 m/s)2/r

I am guessing this is proton because of the positive charge.
 
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Actually, I believe the equation is r= (mv)/(|q|B)
 
So, (0.208m)=(m*2.00x10^5m/s)/(1.602x10^-19*0.1 tesla)

and m = 1.67 x 10^-26 kg

Is this correct?
 
aChordate said:
So, (0.208m)=(m*2.00x10^5m/s)/(1.602x10^-19*0.1 tesla)

and m = 1.67 x 10^-26 kg

Is this correct?

0.1 tesla is 1000 gauss, not 100. Fix the exponent.
 
It would be 0.01 Tesla and the answer would be 6.49x10^14 ?
 
aChordate said:
It would be 0.01 Tesla and the answer would be 6.49x10^14 ?

It would be 0.01 tesla but now your answer is WAY off. You were closer before. What happened?
 
I think I made an algebraic error.

Now I have m=1.67x10^-27
 
And thanks for your help!
 
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