Why does Lorentz force have that particular direction?

Thread starter marcgrissz
Start date Jan 8, 2016
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Direction Force Lorentz Lorentz force

In summary, the Lorentz force is the force experienced by a charged particle in an electromagnetic field, and is the combined effect of the electric and magnetic forces acting on the particle. It has both a magnitude and direction, determined by the charge of the particle, the strength of the electric and magnetic fields, and the angle between the particle's velocity and the field lines. The direction of the Lorentz force is perpendicular to both the electric and magnetic fields due to the cross product between the two vector quantities. When the magnetic field is reversed, the force will also reverse direction. The Lorentz force is important in understanding the behavior of charged particles and plays a crucial role in many areas of physics.

Jan 8, 2016

marcgrissz

Why does Lorentz force have that particular direction? Why is it perpendicular to the magnetic intesity and the current? Is it cause of some photons' reactions?
Thanks

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Jan 8, 2016

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Because that's the direction things move in nature, so of course we select equations for our theories that reproduce that behavior.

1. What is the Lorentz force?

The Lorentz force is the force experienced by a charged particle in an electromagnetic field. It is the combined effect of the electric and magnetic forces acting on the particle.

2. Why does the Lorentz force have both a magnitude and direction?

The Lorentz force has both a magnitude and direction because it is the vector sum of the electric and magnetic forces. The magnitude is determined by the charge of the particle, the strength of the electric and magnetic fields, and the angle between the particle's velocity and the field lines. The direction is determined by the right-hand rule, where the thumb points in the direction of the particle's velocity, the index finger points in the direction of the magnetic field, and the middle finger points in the direction of the Lorentz force.

3. Why is the direction of the Lorentz force perpendicular to both the electric and magnetic fields?

The direction of the Lorentz force is perpendicular to both the electric and magnetic fields because it is the result of the cross product between the two vector quantities. This means that the force acts at a right angle to both the electric and magnetic fields, resulting in a perpendicular direction.

4. How does the direction of the Lorentz force change when the magnetic field is reversed?

The direction of the Lorentz force changes when the magnetic field is reversed because the force is directly proportional to the magnetic field. This means that when the magnetic field is reversed, the force will also reverse direction, resulting in a net change in the direction of the Lorentz force acting on the particle.

5. Why is the Lorentz force important in understanding the behavior of charged particles?

The Lorentz force is important in understanding the behavior of charged particles because it explains how they interact with electric and magnetic fields. This force is responsible for many phenomena, such as the motion of charged particles in a magnetic field, the deflection of particles in particle accelerators, and the behavior of charged particles in devices such as motors and generators. Understanding the Lorentz force is crucial in many areas of physics, including electromagnetism and particle physics.