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Circles in a Field

Part of the Electricity and Magnetism section of Coddy's Physics journey. Lesson 43 of 51.

At right angles to a uniform field, a charge moves on a circle: the magnetic force is the centripetal force.

qvB=mv2r⇒r=mvqBqvB = \frac{mv^2}{r}\quad\Rightarrow\quad r = \frac{mv}{qB}

A positive charge moving on a circle in a field into the page, the force toward the centre

The magnetic force always points to the centre: the charge goes round.

One turn takes T=2πmqBT = \frac{2\pi m}{qB}, whatever the speed.

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Challenge

A proton moving at 106 m/s10^{6}\ \mathrm{m/s} enters a 0.5 T0.5\ \mathrm{T} field at right angles to it. What is the radius rr of the circle it moves on?

Try it yourself

Physics diagram: bregion, orbit, charge, vec; arrows v

Solve for rr

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