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At a point near the equator, the Earth's magnetic field is horizontal and points to the north. If an electron is moving vertically upward at this point, does the magnetic force acting on it point north, south, east, west, upward, or downward? Explain.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The magnetic force on the electron points west.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the Direction of Motion and Magnetic Field

The electron is moving vertically upward. The Earth's magnetic field, at this point, is horizontal and points north.
02

Recall the Right-Hand Rule for Magnetic Force

Use the right-hand rule to determine the direction of the magnetic force. For a positive charge: point your thumb in the direction of motion and your index finger in the direction of the magnetic field; your middle finger will then point in the direction of the force. For a negative charge, like an electron, the force will be in the opposite direction.
03

Apply Right-Hand Rule for an Electron

Since the electron is negatively charged, first point your thumb vertically upward (direction of motion) and your index finger horizontally to the north (direction of the magnetic field). Normally, your middle finger points east, but for the electron, the force is reversed to point west.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Right-Hand Rule
The Right-Hand Rule is a simple way to determine the direction of the magnetic force on a charged particle moving in a magnetic field. It particularly helps in visualizing three-dimensional space. Here's how it works for a positive charge:
  • Point your thumb in the direction of the particle's velocity (motion).
  • Extend your index finger in the direction of the magnetic field.
  • Your middle finger, perpendicular to the other two, gives you the direction of the force.
However, electrons are negatively charged. This means once you determine the direction using the Right-Hand Rule, the actual force on the electron will be in the opposite direction of your middle finger. This reversal is crucial when applying the rule to negative charges like electrons.
Electron Motion
Electrons are negatively charged particles. When they move through a magnetic field, a force acts on them. This force is perpendicular to both the velocity of the electron and the magnetic field lines.
Here's how motion influences the force:
  • If the electron moves parallel to the magnetic field, no magnetic force acts on it.
  • If the electron moves perpendicular to the magnetic field, the force is at its maximum strength.
  • This motion can cause the electron to curve or even spiral, depending on its initial direction and speed.
In our given exercise, the electron is moving vertically upwards, while the magnetic field points horizontally north. The interaction influences where the force will end up after applying the Right-Hand Rule and considering the negative charge reversal.
Magnetic Field Direction
The direction of the magnetic field is an essential factor in determining the direction of the force on a charged particle.
In the exercise, the magnetic field is horizontal and points north. This provides one of the vectors you need when using the Right-Hand Rule.
Important aspects to consider about magnetic fields:
  • They have both a direction and a magnitude, similar to vectors.
  • Field lines, although invisible, visualize these magnetic fields effectively, often depicted as arrows pointing from north to south.
  • The field direction tells you how a north pole of a magnetic needle will align itself.
Understanding magnetic field direction is vital in applications ranging from everyday compasses to complex MRI machines.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A single-turn square loop carries a current of 18 A. The loop is \(15 \mathrm{cm}\) on a side and has a mass of \(0.035 \mathrm{kg}\). Initially the loop lies flat on a horizontal tabletop. When a horizontal magnetic field is turned on, it is found that only one side of the loop experiences an upward force. Find the minimum magnetic field, \(B_{\min }\), necessary to start tipping the loop up from the table.

\(\mathrm{A} 12.5-\mu \mathrm{C}\) particle with a mass of \(2.80 \times 10^{-5} \mathrm{kg}\) moves perpendicular to a \(1.01-\) T magnetic field in a circular path of radius \(21.8 \mathrm{m}\). (a) How fast is the particle moving? (b) How long will it take the particle to complete one orbit?

Find the angle between the plane of a loop and the magnetic field for which the magnetic torque acting on the loop is equal to \(x\) times its maximum value, where \(0 \leq x \leq 1\).

Two current loops, one square the other circular, have one turn made from wires of the same length. (a) If these loops carry the same current and are placed in magnetic fields of equal magnitude, is the maximum torque of the square loop greater than, less than, or the same as the maximum torque of the circular loop? Explain. (b) Calculate the ratio of the maximum torques, \(\tau_{\text {square }} / \tau_{\text {circle }}\).

A long, straight wire on the \(x\) axis carries a current of \(3.12 \mathrm{A}\) in the positive \(x\) direction. The magnetic field produced by the wire combines with a uniform magnetic field of \(1.45 \times 10^{-6} \mathrm{T}\) that points in the positive \(z\) direction. (a) Is the net magnetic field of this system equal to zero at a point on the positive \(y\) axis or at a point on the negative \(y\) axis? Explain. (b) Find the distance from the wire to the point where the field vanishes.

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