Ch. 27.

7: Moving Particles in Electric &

Magnetic Fields

By Maxwell
Vhareta
Section 27.7: Moving particles in electric and
magnetic fields
Section Goal
You will learn to
• Determine the
dynamics and
kinematics of charged
particles moving in
electric fields and
magnetic fields.
27.6 moving particles in a E and B field

•An electric current is an assembly of

moving charges and so the force on a
current carrying wire is the vector sum of
all the forces acting on the individual
charges
•→ we can work out the force on a single
charge carrier
Magnetic force on a moving charge
•current consisting of charge carriers q
through wire of cross sectional area A
Magnetic force on a moving charge
•in a time Δt, charge carriers move a distance l =
vΔt
•all particles within a distance l of A will pass
through A in time Δt
Magnetic force on a moving charge
•all particles within a distance l = vΔt of
A will pass through A in time Δt
–ie. all particles in a volume V=Al
Magnetic force on a moving charge
•let the number of particles per unit volume be n
•N = number of particles in volume V=Al
•N= nV
Magnetic force on a moving charge
•let the number of particles per unit volume be n
•N = number of particles in volume V=Al
•N= nV
Magnetic force on a moving charge
•ΔQ = charge passing through area A in
time Δt
•ΔQ = Nq = (nV)q = n Al q = n A vΔt q
Magnetic force on a moving charge
•ΔQ = n A vΔt q
•I = ΔQ / Δt = n A vq
Magnetic force on a moving charge
•I = n A vq
•force on segment l = |I|l B sin θ
•F= |nAvq|l B sin θ
•F= n (Al)|q|vB sinθ
•F= (nV)|q|vB sin θ = N|q|vB sin θ
Magnetic force on a moving charge
•force on segment l = N|q|vB sin θ
•force on one charge = |q|vB sin θ

Vector form
𝐵
•𝐹𝑝 = 𝑞 𝑣Ԧ × 𝐵
Force in an E and B field
𝑭𝑬𝑩
•
𝒑 = 𝒒𝑬 + 𝒒𝒗 × 𝑩 = 𝒒 𝑬 + 𝒗 × 𝑩
Force in an E and B field
•Because the B field is perpendicular to
the particle velocity
•F p = |q|Vb
B B
BUT F p = m ac

•ac= v²/R

• |q|vB = mv²/R

•→ R= mv/|q|B
Force in an E and B field
•R= mv/|q|B
•T = 2π R/v = 2πm/|q|B
–independent of v
Quiz Questions
Section 27.7: Moving particles in electric and
magnetic fields
Example 27.4 Mass spectrometer
Figure 27.40 shows a schematic
of a device, called a mass
spectrometer, for determining the
mass of ions or other charged
particles. The ions that enter the
mass spectrometer are first
accelerated by an electric field
and then deflected by a magnetic
field. The mass of the ions is
obtained from the position at
which they hit a detector after
being deflected by the magnetic
field.