Deflection of Particles in E and B Fields
- Forces due to electric (E) and magnetic (B) fields will influence the motion of charged particles
- A charged particle will experience a force in an electric field that will cause it to move
- If the particle remains still in an electric field, it will move parallel to the field lines (direction depending upon its charge)
- This is because the electric force is parallel to the particle’s velocity and the electric field lines
- If the particle is in motion in an electric field, it will move in a parabolic trajectory
- A charged particle will only experience a force in a magnetic field if it is already moving
- If a particle is in motion in a magnetic field, it will move in circular motion
- This because the magnetic force is perpendicular to the velocity of the charged particle and the magnetic field lines
- The magnetic force is equal to the centripetal force on the particle