Question

A charged particle's velocity makes an angle θ with a magnetic field \[\vec B\], where 0° < θ < 90°. The perpendicular component of velocity \[v_\perp = v \sin\theta\] is responsible for:

Options

• Increasing the kinetic energy of the particle

• The acceleration of the particle along the direction of \[\vec B\]

• The linear motion of the particle along \[\vec B\]

• The circular motion of the particle

Answer 1

The velocity is resolved into two components: the perpendicular component \[v_\perp = v \sin\theta\], which is ⊥ to \[\vec B\] and causes circular motion, and the parallel component \[v_\parallel = v \cos\theta\], which is ∥ to \[\vec B\] and causes linear motion (unchanged).