Question:

The path of an electron in a uniform magnetic field may be

Updated On: Jul 2, 2022
  • circular but not helical
  • helical but not circular
  • neither helical nor circular
  • either helical or circular
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

When the angle between magnetic field $\vec{ B }$ and velocity vector $\vec{ v }$ is $90^{\circ}$, so the force will be maximum and always perpendicular to motion, so the path will be circular. When the electron is moving at an angle to the field (other than $0^{\circ}, 90^{\circ}$, or $180^{\circ}$ ), then electron moves with constant velocity $v \cos \theta$ along the field (as no force acts on a charged particle when it moves parallel to the field) and at the same time it is also moving with velocity $v \sin \theta$ perpendicular to the field due to which it will describe a circle (in a plane perpendicular to the field) of radius $r=\frac{m(v \sin \theta)}{q_{B}}$
So, the resultant path will be a helix with its axis parallel to the field $\vec{ B }$ as shown in figure.
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Concepts Used:

Magnetic Field

The magnetic field is a field created by moving electric charges. It is a force field that exerts a force on materials such as iron when they are placed in its vicinity. Magnetic fields do not require a medium to propagate; they can even propagate in a vacuum. Magnetic field also referred to as a vector field, describes the magnetic influence on moving electric charges, magnetic materials, and electric currents.

A magnetic field can be presented in two ways.

  • Magnetic Field Vector: The magnetic field is described mathematically as a vector field. This vector field can be plotted directly as a set of many vectors drawn on a grid. Each vector points in the direction that a compass would point and has length dependent on the strength of the magnetic force.
  • Magnetic Field Lines: An alternative way to represent the information contained within a vector field is with the use of field lines. Here we dispense with the grid pattern and connect the vectors with smooth lines.

Properties of Magnetic Field Lines

  • Magnetic field lines never cross each other
  • The density of the field lines indicates the strength of the field
  • Magnetic field lines always make closed-loops
  • Magnetic field lines always emerge or start from the north pole and terminate at the south pole.