Question 1

What is the Lorentz force and how does it affect moving charges?

Accepted Answer

The Lorentz force is the force exerted by a magnetic field on a moving electric charge. Its magnitude is calculated using qVB sine theta, where q is charge, V is velocity, B is magnetic field strength, and theta is the angle between velocity and field. The force is maximum when velocity and magnetic field are perpendicular, and it acts perpendicular to both, changing the charge's direction without affecting its speed.

Question 2

Why do charged particles follow a circular path in a magnetic field?

Accepted Answer

When a charged particle moves perpendicular to a magnetic field, the Lorentz force acts as a centripetal force, always pointing toward the center of the path. This force continuously changes the particle's direction while maintaining constant speed, causing it to follow a circular trajectory. The radius of this path depends on the particle's charge-to-mass ratio, velocity, and magnetic field strength.

Question 3

How did J.J. Thomson use a cathode ray tube to discover the electron's charge?

Accepted Answer

Thomson demonstrated that cathode rays could be deflected by a magnetic field in an evacuated tube, proving electrons carry negative charge. By measuring the deflection angle and applying the relationship between Lorentz force and centripetal force, he calculated the electron's charge-to-mass ratio. This landmark experiment established that electrons are fundamental particles with measurable electrical properties.

Question 4

What three measurements are needed to calculate an electron's charge-to-mass ratio?

Accepted Answer

To determine the charge-to-mass ratio experimentally, you need the accelerating voltage that accelerates electrons, the magnetic field strength applied to deflect them, and the radius of the circular path the electrons follow. These three parameters, combined with the Lorentz force equation and Newton's second law, allow calculation of the electron's charge-to-mass ratio from cathode ray tube data.

Question 5

How does increasing accelerating voltage affect the electron beam's deflection in a magnetic field?

Accepted Answer

As accelerating voltage increases, electrons travel faster and require a stronger magnetic field to achieve the same deflection. The faster-moving electrons experience the same Lorentz force but follow a larger circular path. Consequently, the coil current must be increased to generate sufficient magnetic field strength to bend the beam to the same point on the grid.

Question 6

What are practical applications of charged particles moving in circular paths through magnetic fields?

Accepted Answer

Mass spectrometers use this principle to identify unknown sample components by separating particles based on their charge-to-mass ratio and applied voltage. Historically, cathode ray tubes enabled television and computer monitor displays. Modern oscilloscopes still employ cathode ray tube technology, though they typically use electrostatic deflection instead of magnetic deflection to control electron beams.

Question 7

How does the right-hand rule determine the direction of force on a positive charge in a magnetic field?

Accepted Answer

The right-hand thumb rule indicates the direction of Lorentz force on a positive charge. Point your thumb in the velocity direction, fingers in the magnetic field direction, and your palm faces the force direction. All three vectors remain perpendicular to each other. For negative charges, the force acts in the opposite direction, which is why reversing current reverses the beam's deflection path.

Electric Charge in a Magnetic Field - Assessment Quiz