Two Different Charges in a Magnetic Field



QuickTime Version

In this movie you see two charges of equal mass moving with equal velocities through a magnetic field. The magnetic field (B-field) is pointing into the screen. The charge on the upper mass is five times greater than the charge on the lower mass. Notice that the greater charge causes the force on the charge to be greater which forces the mass into a smaller, tighter circular path. The greater the force on the charge, the greater the centripetal acceleration experienced by the charge.  Be sure you can apply the third hand rule to this situation.

©1998 Science Joy Wagon