What happens to a charged particle moving in a magnetic field?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Question: What happens to a charged particle moving in a magnetic field?

Option a: The charge will experience a magnetic torque
- Magnetic torque arises when a magnetic dipole (like a current loop or spinning charge distribution) is placed in a magnetic field. A single moving charge is not a magnetic dipole in the same sense; it experiences a force, not a torque, from a steady magnetic field. Therefore this option misapplies the concept of torque to a lone moving charge.

Option b: The charge will experience a magnetic energy
- Magnetic energy is a property associated with fields and configurations (like inductors or magnetic potential energy in certain setups). A freely moving charged particle in a uniform magnetic field does not gain or lose magnetic potential energy simply from moving through the field; its kinetic energy remains constant in the absence of other forces. This statement attributes energy changes to a situation where none are required by the magnetic interaction alone, making it incorrect.

Option c: The charge will experience a magnetic force
- This is the correct description of the interaction. A charged particle moving with velocity v in a magnetic field B experiences the magnetic force F = q(v × B), which is perpendicular to both the velocity and the magnetic field. This force changes the particle’s direction of motion (causing curved trajectories, such as circular or helical paths in appropriate conditions) but does not do work on the particle (the force is always perpendicular to velocity, so kinetic energy stays constant in the purely magnetic case).

Option d: The charge will experience a magnetic loop
- The idea of a “magnetic loop” is not a standard description of the force experienced by a single moving charge. Magnetic loops are more relevant to field configurations or current-carrying conductors creating loop-shaped field lines, not to the instantaneous effect on a lone charged particle. Therefore this option is not an accurate characterization of the interaction.

Summary of reasoning across options:
- A magnetic torque would require a magnetic dipole-like object; a single moving charge does not behave as a dipole to produce a torque in a static field. 
- Magnetic energy changes for a free charge in a static magnetic field are not typical without an accompanying electric field or potential energy considerations; the magnetic field alone does not change kinetic energy of a free charge.
- The fundamental effect is a magnetic force perpendicular to velocity and field, altering trajectory without doing work in the ideal case.
- The concept of a magnetic loop does not describe the direct force on a single moving charge in a uniform magnetic field.

Thus, the most accurate statement among the options is that the charge will experience a magnetic force, which governs its motion in the magnetic field.

UCIC 202503 PHYS101 Quiz 11

What happens to a charged particle moving in a magnetic field?

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

What happens to the velocity of a charged particle moving at any angle with respect to the magnetic field?

What happens to the velocity of a charged particle moving in perpendicular direction to the magnetic field?

A proton travels perpendicular to a magnetic field of strength 0.400 T at a speed of 1.50 × 10⁶ m/s. What is the magnetic force on it? (q = 1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹ C)

A positive charge moving with a constant velocity V enters a region of a uniform magnetic field directed out of the page. What is the direction of the magnetic force on the charge?

A positive charge moving with a constant velocity V enters a uniform magnetic field directed to the top of the page. What is the direction of the magnetic force on the charge?

A negative charge moving with a constant velocity V enters a uniform magnetic field directed out of the page. What is the direction of the Lorentz force on the charge?

A straight wire carries an electric current to the right. The current is within a uniform magnetic field directed into the page. What is the direction of the Lorentz force?

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

Homework AI Solver

Stylized AI Paper Writer

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation AI Academic Writing Tool

In-Class Translation Assistant

AI Note Generator

AI Quiz Answers

Past Exam Questions from University Test Bank

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler