Lorentz force

(Redirected from Lorentz force law)

Categories: Electromagnetism | Introductory physics

In physics, the Lorentz force is the force exerted on a charged particle in an electromagnetic field. The particle will experience a force due to electric field of qE, and due to the magnetic field qv × B. Combined they give the Lorentz force equation:

<math>\mathbf{F} = q (\mathbf{E} + \mathbf{v} \times \mathbf{B}),</math>

where E is the electric field, B is the magnetic field , q is the charge of the particle, v is its instantaneous velocity, and × is the cross product.

Thus a positively charged particle will simply be accelerated in the same linear orientation as the E field, but will spiral when travelling through the B field, due to the orientation of the cross product operator, by the right-hand rule.

The Lorentz force is a principle exploited in many devices including:

• Cyclotrons and other circular path particle accelerators
• Homopolar generators
• Magnetrons
• Magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters
• Mass spectrometers
• Railguns

See also

• Hendrik Lorentz
• Electromagnetism

Reference

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