# 8.4 Magnetic field strength: force on a moving charge in a magnetic

 Page 1 / 5
• Describe the effects of magnetic fields on moving charges.
• Use the right hand rule 1 to determine the velocity of a charge, the direction of the magnetic field, and the direction of the magnetic force on a moving charge.
• Calculate the magnetic force on a moving charge.

What is the mechanism by which one magnet exerts a force on another? The answer is related to the fact that all magnetism is caused by current, the flow of charge. Magnetic fields exert forces on moving charges , and so they exert forces on other magnets, all of which have moving charges.

## Magnetic force on a moving charge

The magnetic force on a moving charge is one of the most fundamental known. Magnetic force is as important as the electrostatic or Coulomb force. Yet the magnetic force is more complex, in both the number of factors that affects it and in its direction, than the relatively simple Coulomb force.

The magnitude of the magnetic force $F$ on a charge depends on: the quantity of charge $q$ , its speed $v$ , the strength of magnetic field $B$ , and the direction of motion relative to the magnetic field's direction . Motion, and its direction, are critical.

The maximum force occurs when the direction of motion and the magnetic field's direction are perpendicular to one another (i.e. ninety degree angle between directions).
$\mathbf{v}\perp \mathbf{B}$ In that situation, the magnitude of the magnetic force is
$F=qvB$
The minimum force occurs when the direction of motion and the magnetic field's direction are parallel to one another (i.e. zero or 180 degree angle between directions). $\mathbf{v}\parallel \mathbf{B}$ In that situation, the magnitude of the magnetic force is
$F=0$

We define the magnetic field strength $B$ in terms of the force on a charged particle moving in a magnetic field. The SI unit for magnetic field strength $B$ is called the tesla    (T) after the eccentric but brilliant inventor Nikola Tesla (1856–1943). To determine how the tesla relates to other SI units, we solve for the magnetic field strength.

$B=\frac{F}{qv}$

So, the tesla is

$\text{1 T}=\frac{\text{1 N}}{C\cdot \text{m/s}}=\frac{\text{1 N}}{A\cdot m}$

(note that C/s = A).

Another smaller unit, called the gauss    (G), where $1 G={\text{10}}^{-4}\phantom{\rule{0.25em}{0ex}}T$ , is sometimes used. The strongest permanent magnets have fields near 2 T; superconducting electromagnets may attain 10 T or more. The Earth’s magnetic field on its surface is only about $5×{\text{10}}^{-5}\phantom{\rule{0.25em}{0ex}}T$ , or 0.5 G.

## Making connections: charges and magnets

There is no magnetic force on static charges. However, there is a magnetic force on moving charges. When charges are stationary, their electric fields do not affect magnets. But, when charges move, they produce magnetic fields that exert forces on other magnets. When there is relative motion, a connection between electric and magnetic fields emerges—each affects the other.

## Direction of force: right hand rule 1

The direction of the magnetic force $\mathbf{\text{F}}$ is perpendicular to the plane formed by $\mathbf{\text{v}}$ and $\mathbf{\text{B}}$ , as determined by the right hand rule 1 (or RHR-1), which is illustrated in [link] . RHR-1 states that, to determine the direction of the magnetic force on a positive moving charge, you point the thumb of the right hand in the direction of $\mathbf{\text{v}}$ , the fingers in the direction of $\mathbf{\text{B}}$ , and a perpendicular to the palm points in the direction of $\mathbf{\text{F}}$ . One way to remember this is that there is one velocity, and so the thumb represents it. There are many field lines, and so the fingers represent them. The force is in the direction you would push with your palm. The force on a negative charge is in exactly the opposite direction to that on a positive charge.

## Section summary

• The maximum force a magnetic field can exert on a moving charge is $F=qvB$
• The SI unit for magnetic field strength $B$ is the tesla (T), which is related to other units by
$1 T=\frac{\text{1 N}}{C\cdot \text{m/s}}=\frac{\text{1 N}}{A\cdot m}.$
• The direction of the force on a moving charge is given by right hand rule 1 (RHR-1): Point the thumb of the right hand in the direction of $v$ , the fingers in the direction of $B$ , and a perpendicular to the palm points in the direction of $F$ .
• The force is perpendicular to the plane formed by $\mathbf{\text{v}}$ and $\mathbf{\text{B}}$ . Since the force is zero if $\mathbf{\text{v}}$ is parallel to $\mathbf{\text{B}}$ , charged particles often follow magnetic field lines rather than cross them.

## Conceptual questions

If a charged particle moves in a straight line through some region of space, can you say that the magnetic field in that region is necessarily zero?

## Problems&Exercises

What is the direction of the magnetic force on a positive charge that moves as shown in each of the six cases shown in [link] ? Note that $\odot$ indicates "coming out of the page" and $\otimes$ means "going into the page."

(a) Left (West)

(b) Into the page

(c) Up (North)

(d) No force

(e) Right (East)

(f) Down (South)

Repeat [link] for a negative charge.

What is the direction of the velocity of a negative charge that experiences the magnetic force shown in each of the three cases in [link] , assuming it moves perpendicular to $\mathbf{\text{B}}?$ Note that $\odot$ indicates "coming out of the page" and $\otimes$ means "going into the page."

(a) East (right)

(b) Into page

(c) South (down)

Repeat [link] for a positive charge.

What is the direction of the magnetic field that produces the magnetic force on a positive charge as shown in each of the three cases in the figure below, assuming $\mathbf{\text{B}}$ is perpendicular to $\mathbf{\text{v}}$ ? Note that $\otimes$ means "going into the page."

(a) Into page

(b) West (left)

(c) Out of page

Repeat [link] for a negative charge.

What is the maximum force on an aluminum rod with a $0\text{.}\text{100}\text{-μC}$ charge that you pass between the poles of a 1.50-T permanent magnet at a speed of 5.00 m/s? In what direction is the force?

$7\text{.}\text{50}×{\text{10}}^{-7}\phantom{\rule{0.25em}{0ex}}\text{N}$ perpendicular to both the magnetic field lines and the velocity

(a) Aircraft sometimes acquire small static charges. Suppose a supersonic jet has a $0\text{.}\text{500}\text{-μC}$ charge and flies due west at a speed of 660 m/s over the Earth’s south magnetic pole, where the $8\text{.}\text{00}×{\text{10}}^{-5}\text{-T}$ magnetic field points straight up. What are the direction and the magnitude of the magnetic force on the plane? (b) Discuss whether the value obtained in part (a) implies this is a significant or negligible effect.

what is variations in raman spectra for nanomaterials
I only see partial conversation and what's the question here!
what about nanotechnology for water purification
please someone correct me if I'm wrong but I think one can use nanoparticles, specially silver nanoparticles for water treatment.
Damian
yes that's correct
Professor
I think
Professor
what is the stm
is there industrial application of fullrenes. What is the method to prepare fullrene on large scale.?
Rafiq
industrial application...? mmm I think on the medical side as drug carrier, but you should go deeper on your research, I may be wrong
Damian
How we are making nano material?
what is a peer
What is meant by 'nano scale'?
What is STMs full form?
LITNING
scanning tunneling microscope
Sahil
how nano science is used for hydrophobicity
Santosh
Do u think that Graphene and Fullrene fiber can be used to make Air Plane body structure the lightest and strongest. Rafiq
Rafiq
what is differents between GO and RGO?
Mahi
what is simplest way to understand the applications of nano robots used to detect the cancer affected cell of human body.? How this robot is carried to required site of body cell.? what will be the carrier material and how can be detected that correct delivery of drug is done Rafiq
Rafiq
what is Nano technology ?
write examples of Nano molecule?
Bob
The nanotechnology is as new science, to scale nanometric
brayan
nanotechnology is the study, desing, synthesis, manipulation and application of materials and functional systems through control of matter at nanoscale
Damian
Is there any normative that regulates the use of silver nanoparticles?
what king of growth are you checking .?
Renato
What fields keep nano created devices from performing or assimulating ? Magnetic fields ? Are do they assimilate ?
why we need to study biomolecules, molecular biology in nanotechnology?
?
Kyle
yes I'm doing my masters in nanotechnology, we are being studying all these domains as well..
why?
what school?
Kyle
biomolecules are e building blocks of every organics and inorganic materials.
Joe
anyone know any internet site where one can find nanotechnology papers?
research.net
kanaga
sciencedirect big data base
Ernesto
Introduction about quantum dots in nanotechnology
what does nano mean?
nano basically means 10^(-9). nanometer is a unit to measure length.
Bharti
do you think it's worthwhile in the long term to study the effects and possibilities of nanotechnology on viral treatment?
absolutely yes
Daniel
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!