What Is the Electromagnetic Force on an Electron in Given Fields?

3 replies · 2K views · last reply
Roodles01
Messages
125
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


An electron in an electric field E = 3.0x107 ex NC-1 and a magnetic field B = 3.0 ez T has velocity v = 1.0x107 (2ex - ey) ms-1.

Calculate electromagnetic force on the electron.


Homework Equations


F = q (E + v X B)
where q = e- = -1.6x10-19 C


The Attempt at a Solution


I have attached a working out, but have difficulty with just one aspect.

Whilst working out the matrix vXB I have a negative sign where I think a positive sign should be.
I have attached the working as a pic.
Could someone show me why I am correct or incorrect.
Thank you.
 
Attachments
  • Handwritten working for a Lorentz force problem: cross product v x B set up as a 3x3 determinant, with a red annotation asking why the e_y term is negative, and a final result F = 9.6x10^-12 e_y N.
    2008 Q3 snip.JPG
    31.1 KB · Views: 534
Ah! Is this to do with ex X ey = -ey?
They're orthogonal?
 
The negative sign comes from the definition of the cross product.
v x B = ex(...) - ey(...) + ez(...)