Why is the path of an electron in a magnetic field circular?

The magnetic field does no work, so the kinetic energy and speed of a charged particle in a magnetic field remain constant. The magnetic force, acting perpendicular to the velocity of the particle, will cause circular motion.

What happens when an electron passes through a magnetic field?

When a charged particle moves through a magnetic field at right angles to the field, the field exerts a force on the charged particle in a different direction.

What path does the moving electron take in a magnetic field?

A negatively charged particle moves in the plane of the page in a region where the magnetic field is perpendicular into the page (represented by the small circles with x’s—like the tails of arrows). The magnetic force is perpendicular to the velocity, and so velocity changes in direction but not magnitude.

What is the path of electron in presence of electric field?

Electrons have a parabolic path in an electric field because the velocity of the electron in the direction perpendicular to the electric field is constant as there is no force and hence, no acceleration along this direction, but there is an acceleration, constant in direction, in the direction of the electric field( …

When an electron enters perpendicularly in a magnetic field with velocity v?

As the magnetic force on any moving charged particle is perpendicular to the velocity of that particle. So the magnetic force never changes the magnitude of velocity. It just changes the direction of the velocity. As the magnitude of the velocity is equal to speed.

What happens when an electron enters a magnetic field perpendicular?

A charged particle moving with a velocity not in the same direction as the magnetic field. The velocity component perpendicular to the magnetic field creates circular motion, whereas the component of the velocity parallel to the field moves the particle along a straight line.

What is the path of electrons in presence and absence of electric field?

In the absence of an external electric field, the trajectory of electron will be straight line. And in the presence of an external electric field, the trajectory of an electron will be curved one with acceleration along the field.

Are the paths of electrons straight lines?

i) In the absence of electric field the path of electrons are straight lines between successive collisions. Therefore, in the presence of electric field the electrons follow a curved path in between successive collisions.

How is the magnetic force on a particle moving in a magnetic field different from gravitational and electric forces?

How is the magnetic force on a particle moving in a magnetic field different from gravitational and electric forces? Gravitational and electric forces act along the line connecting two interacting objects, whereas magnetic forces are perpendicular to the motion of the particle and the magnetic field.