Magnetic Fields and

Forces

Facts about Magnetism

Magnets have 2
poles (north and
south)
Like poles repel
Unlike poles attract
Magnets create a
MAGNETIC FIELD
around them

Magnetic Field
To define a magnetic field you
need to understand the
MAGNITUDE and DIRECTION
We sometimes call the magnetic
field a B-Field as the letter B is
the SYMBOL for a magnetic
field with the TESLA (T) as the
unit.
The weber per square
meter(Wb/m2) is an older
name for telsa.

Magnetic Force
you have learned that electric charges
exert electrostatic forces of attraction and
repulsion on each other while they are rest.
When the charges are in motion , they still
exert electrostatic forces along with
magnetic forces.
This magnetic force also attracts and
repels when two lines of force are brought
together.
The interaction between the two magnetic
fields causes one of these two things to
occur:
Attract ( Unlike Poles)
Repel ( Like Poles)

How to find the magnetic force?

Consider two objects. The magnitude of
the magnetic force between them
depends on how much charge is in how
much motion in each of the two objects
and how far apart they are. The direction
of the force depends on the relative
directions of motion of the charge in each
case.

The usual way to go about finding the

magnetic force is framed in terms of a
fixed amount of charge q moving at
constant velocity v in a uniform
magnetic field B.

If we don't know the magnitude of the

magnetic field directly then we can still
use this method because it is often
possible to calculate the
magnetic field based on the distance
to a known current.

Magnetic Force on Moving

Charge
The magnetic force on a free moving charge is
perpendicular to both the velocity of the charge and
the magnetic field with direction given by the
right hand rule. The force is given by the charge
times the vector product of velocity and magnetic
field.

Magnetic Force on a Moving

Charge
If:
F = Magnetic force (in Newtons)
q = amount of charge (in Coulombs)
v = Velocity of the charge
B = Strength of the magnetic field (in Tesla)
= Angle between B and v

Formulas:
Fm = q v B sin
B= fm / qv sin

Example 1

An aircraft whose is 16 m carries a

static charge of 0.75c. It travels at
235m/s perpendicular to a 1.9 X
_
10 2T magnetic field. What
magnetic force does an aircraft
experience.

Solution:
Fm = qvsin

= (0.75c)(235m/s)
(1.9x10-4 T) sin 90o

Given:
Q= 0.75 C
V= 1.9 x 10 _ 4 T

= 90o

Answer:

Find :
=F

= 0. 033 N

Example 2:
A proton is travelling 2.4x
106 m/s in a circular path
with a magnetic force of
3.2 x 10-13 N. What is the
magnitude of the
magnetic field on the
proton.
Given :
Q = 1.6 x 10-19C
V= 2.4x 106 m/s
Fm= 3.2 x 10- 13 N

= 90o

Solution:
B = fm / qvsin

= 3.2 x 10 13 N
(1.6 x 10-19 C) (2.4 x 10-6
m/s ) (sin 90o)

Answer:
B =0.83 T

Magnetic Force and Circular Motion

The magnetic force is
equal to the centripetal
force and thus can be
used to solve for the
circular path. Or, if the
radius is known, could be
used to solve for the
MASS of the ion. This
could be used to
determine the material of
the object.

Formula:
R= mv
QB sin

Example

An electron travelling at 7.9 x 10 6

m/s enters at right angles into a
uniform magnetic field equal t0 1.25 x
10-3 T. Determine the radius inside the
field path of this election.

Solution:

R= mv
qBsin

Given:
Q= 1.6 x 10-19C
fm= 9.11 x 10-31 kg
V= 7.9 x 106 m/s
B= 1.25 x 10 -3 T
= 90o

Find :
R

= ( 9. 11x 10 -31 kg)(7.9x 106 m/s)

( 1.6 x 10-19 C) (1.25 x 10-3) ( sin
90o)

Answer:
R = 0.036