大象传媒

Forces on charged particlesMotion of individual charges in magnetic fields

Electric and magnetic fields both exert forces on charged particles. The motion of charged particles in these fields can be determined and used in particle accelerators.

Part of PhysicsParticles and waves

Motion of individual charges in magnetic fields

The force exerted on a charge is always perpendicular to the velocity of the charge.

The force exerted changes the velocity so the direction of the applied force changes as a result.

Overall this results in a circular motion. For example, if an electron moving left to right across a screen enters a magnetic field that has field lines into the screen, then the initial force on the electron will be downwards. But as the direction of the electron's movement changes, the force will keep changing. So it provides a force in a radial direction towards the centre of a circle.

Motion of individual charges in magnetic fields

This can be demonstrated with an electron deflection tube.

Electron deflection tube

This is why many of the tracks of particles in collider experiments are circular 'spirals'.

Particle collider showing many curved particle tracks
Image caption,
Particle collider showing many curved particle tracks

This is also the reason that the large hadron collider at CERN in Switzerland is circular, as seen from above:

Aerial photograph of CERN in Switzerland. A circle with a diameter of 8.5 km is superimposed to show the location of the Large Hardron Collider
Image caption,
Aerial photograph of CERN in Switzerland.