MAGNETIC FORCE

The magnetic force is the force of attraction or repulsion that arises between
electrically charged particles due to their motion. The magnetic force between two
moving charges may be described as the force exerted upon their charge by the
magnetic field created by the other. This force causes the magnets to attract or repel
one another.
Force on a moving charge
The motion of charge q moving with the velocity v in a magnetic field, has a force
acting on it and this force is:
 proportional to the charge q
 proportional to the velocity v
 perpendicular to both v and B
 perpendicular to sinθ where θ is the angle between v and B
This is written as,
F⃗=qv⃗×B⃗
The magnitude of the force is F = qvB sinθ where θ is the angle < 180 degrees
between the velocity and the magnetic field. This implies that the magnetic force on
a stationary charge or a charge moving parallel to the magnetic field is zero. The
direction of the force is given by the right-hand rule.
Where;
F = Magnetic force vector (Newtons, N)
q = charge of a moving particle (Coulombs, C)
v = particle velocity (m/s)
B = Magnetic field vector (Teslas, T)
θ = angle between velocity and magnetic field vectors
If v and B are parallel or anti-parallel to each other, then sinθ = 0 and F = 0. If v and
B are perpendicular to each other, then sinθ = 1 and F has its maximum possible
magnitude F = qvB.
If a charge q is moving with uniform velocity v parallel to the direction of a uniform
magnetic field B, it experiences no force.
Problem Examples
 1. An electron is moving at right angles to a magnetic field of strength 𝐵=1.0T at
a speed of 𝑣=1.0ms−1. What is the magnitude of the Lorentz force acting upon
it? (𝐹=1.6×10^−19N)
2. An electron is moving at 30∘ to a magnetic field of strength 𝐵=5.0mT at a
speed of 𝑣=1000ms−1. What is the magnitude of the Lorentz force acting upon
it? (𝐹=4.0×10^−19N)
3. Determine the magnetic force of 50 C charged particles moving with the
velocity of 3m/s in a magnetic field of 1T? The direction of its field is same as
the path of the second particle. (F = 0)
The magnetic force on a current-carrying wire
The force on a straight section of wire in a uniform field B is
F = IL × B
where I is the current, l is the length of a straight conductor in a uniform magnetic
field B, and θ is the angle between I and B.
Examples:
1. A proton travels with a speed of 3.0 × 106 m/s at an angle of 37° with the
direction of a magnetic field of 0.30 T in the +y direction. What is the magnitude of
the magnetic force on the proton? (8.7 x 10^−14 N)
2. A wire carries a steady current of 2.40 A. A straight section of the wire is 1.60 T
in the positive z direction. If the current is in the + x direction, what is the magnetic
force on the section of wire? (2.88 N)