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9.5: Magnetic Field Strength- Force on a Moving Charge in a Magnetic Field

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    Learning Objectives

    By the end of this section, you will be able to:

    • 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.

    Right Hand Rule 1

    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 \(q\) moving at a speed \(v\) in a direction that is at right angles to a magnetic field of strength \(B\) is given by

    \[F = qvB\]

    This force is often called the Lorentz force. In fact, this is how we define the magnetic field strength \(B\)--in 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). The tesla relates to other SI units as follows:

    \[1 \,T = \frac{1\, N}{C \cdot m/s} = \dfrac{1\, N}{A \cdot m}\] (note that C/s = A).

    Another smaller unit, called the gauss (G), where \(1 G = 10^{-4} T\), 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 \(5 \times 10^{-5} T\), or 0.5 G.

    The direction of the magnetic force \(\bf{F}\) is perpendicular to the plane formed by \(\bf{v}\) and \(\bf{B}\), as determined by the right hand rule 1 (or RHR-1), which is illustrated in Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\). 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 \(v\), the fingers in the direction of \(\bf{B}\), and a perpendicular to the palm points in the direction of \(\bf{F}\). 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.

    The right hand rule 1. An outstretched right hand rests palm up on a piece of paper on which a vector arrow v points to the right and a vector arrow B points toward the top of the paper. The thumb points to the right, in the direction of the v vector arrow. The fingers point in the direction of the B vector. B and v are in the same plane. The F vector points straight up, perpendicular to the plane of the paper, which is the plane made by B and v. The angle between B and v is theta. The magnitude of the magnetic force F equals q v B sine theta.
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Magnetic fields exert forces on moving charges. This force is one of the most basic known. The direction of the magnetic force on a moving charge is perpendicular to the plane formed by \(\bf{v}\) and \(\bf{B}\) and follows right hand rule–1 (RHR-1) as shown. The magnitude of the force is proportional to \(q\), \(v\), \(B\), and the sine of the angle between \(\bf{v}\) and \(\bf{B}\).

    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.

    Summary

    • Magnetic fields exert a force on a moving charge q, the magnitude of which is \[F = qvB , \nonumber \].
    • The SI unit for magnetic field strength \(B\) is the tesla (T), which is related to other units by \[1 T = \frac{1N}{C \cdot m/s} = \frac{1 N}{A \cdot m}. \nonumber\]
    • 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 \(\mathbf{v}\) and \(\mathbf{B}\). Since the force is zero if \(\mathbf{v}\) is parallel to \(\mathbf{B}\), charged particles often follow magnetic field lines rather than cross them.

    Glossary

    right hand rule 1 (RHR-1)
    the rule to determine the direction of the magnetic force on a positive moving charge: when the thumb of the right hand points in the direction of the charge’s velocity \(v\) and the fingers point in the direction of the magnetic field \(B\) then the force on the charge is perpendicular and away from the palm; the force on a negative charge is perpendicular and into the palm
    Lorentz force
    the force on a charge moving in a magnetic field
    tesla
    T, the SI unit of the magnetic field strength; \(1 T=\frac{1 N}{A⋅m}\)
    magnetic force
    the force on a charge produced by its motion through a magnetic field; the Lorentz force
    gauss
    G, the unit of the magnetic field strength; \(1 G=10^{–4}T\)10–4T

    Contributors and Attributions

    • Paul Peter Urone (Professor Emeritus at California State University, Sacramento) and Roger Hinrichs (State University of New York, College at Oswego) with Contributing Authors: Kim Dirks (University of Auckland) and Manjula Sharma (University of Sydney). This work is licensed by OpenStax University Physics under a Creative Commons Attribution License (by 4.0).

    This page titled 9.5: Magnetic Field Strength- Force on a Moving Charge in a Magnetic Field is shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by OpenStax.