Homework Help: Writing the Faraday tensor for a particle in an E field

1. Apr 26, 2010

peterjaybee

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

A particle of charge q and mass m is travelling in the lab with velocity v in the x direction when it encounters a constant E-field in the y direction. State the non zero components of the Faraday tensor in the rest frame of the lab.

3. The attempt at a solution

I said
$$E=E_{x}i + E_{y}j + E_{z}k$$
As the field is in the y direction
$$E=E_{y}j$$

Thus I believe the faraday tensot to have 2 non-zero components.
$$F^{02}=-E_{y}$$ and $$F^{20}=+E_{y}$$

This does not seem right as the next part of the question asks for the equations of motion for the particle which I get out as a load of 0's.

Am I missing a magnetic component, and if so, how do I get it?

Regards

Last edited: Apr 26, 2010
2. Apr 26, 2010

Phrak

Don't replace Ey with F01 + F10, if that's what your doing.

3. Apr 26, 2010

peterjaybee

just realised i got the indicies wrong. Now the original post is correct.