4.

Motion of Charged Particles in Electric and Magnetic

Fields
The force acting on a particle will be expressed as a function of position, velocity and time
using the second law of motion.
d2~r
m 2 = F~ (~r, ~v , t)
dt
~ the force acting
For a stationary charged particle in an electric field E,

F~e = q E
~

~
If the charge is moving, it generates a magnetic field due to magnetic induction B
 
F~m = q ~v × B~

F~m is perpendicular to the plane of ~v and B.

~

The total force on a moving charged particle is

F~ = F~e + F~m
 
= q E ~ + ~v × B
~

F~ is referred to as the Lorentz force.

4.1 Motion of a Charged Particle in a Uniform and Constant

Electric Field
2
d ~r
F~ = m 2 = q E
~
dt
Acceleration
d2~r
~a =
dt2
~
qE
= (it is constant)
m

1
 Velocity

d~v qE~
~a = =
dt m
ˆ ~v ˆ t ~
qE
⇒ d~v = dt
v~0 t=0 m
qE~
~v − v~0 = t
m
~
qE
⇒ ~v = v~0 + t
m
Displacement

d~r ~
qE
~v = = v~0 + t
dt m
ˆ ~r ˆ t ~
!
qE
⇒ d~r = v~0 + t
r~0 t=0 m
qE ~
~r − r~0 = v~0 t + t2
2m
~
qE
⇒ ~r = r~0 + v~0 t + t2
2m

4.2 Motion of a Charged Particle in a Uniform and Alternating

Electric Field
~ = E~0 sin ωt,
E
where E~0 is amplitude and it is constant.
Acceleration
d ~r 2
F~ = m 2
dt
= qE ~
= q E~0 sin ωt = m~a
q E~0
⇒ ~a = sin ωt
m

2
Velocity

d~v q E~0
~a = = sin ωt
dt m
q E~0
⇒ d~v = sin ωtdt
m
ˆ ~v ˆ t
q E~0
d~v = sin ωtdt
v~0 t=0 m
q E~0
~v − v~0 = − cos ωt
mω
q E~0
⇒ v(t ~= 0) = v~0 =
mω
−q E~0
Or ~v = cos ωt + v~0
mω
Displacement

d~r −q E~0
= ~v = cos ωt + v~0
dt mω
ˆ ~r ˆ t !
−q E~0
⇒ d~r = cos ωt + v~0
r~0 t=0 mω
−q E~0
~r − r~0 = sin ωt + v~0 t
mω 2
−q E~0
⇒ ~r = sin ωt + v~0 t + r~0
mω 2
Graphically

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4.3 Motion of a Charged Particle in a Uniform Magnetic Field
Magnetic force
 
F~ = q ~v × B
~

= m~a
q  ~

⇒ ~a = ~v × B
m
Assumptions:
~ be directed along the z− direction; B
- let the magnetic field B ~ = B0 k̂.

- let ~v be with components in all directions (x, y, z).

ı̂ ̂ k̂
~
~v × B = ẋ ẏ ż
0 0 B0

= ı̂ (B0 ẏ − 0) − ̂ (B0 ẋ − 0) + k̂(0)

⇒ ~ = B0 ẏı̂ − B0 ẋ̂
~v × B

But acceleration has components in all directions

q  ~

~a = ẍı̂ + ÿ̂ + z̈ k̂ = ~v × B
m
q
⇒ ẍı̂ + ÿ̂ + z̈ k̂ = (B0 ẏı̂ − B0 ẋ̂)
m

qB0
⇒ ẍ = ẏ (1)
m
qB0
ÿ = − ẋ (2)
m
z̈ = 0 (3)

Note: No acceleration along z (in direction of B),~ z̈ = 0. The velocity along z (ż) is a
constant. The velocity of the charged particle along the axis of a magnetic field is constant.

We can differentiate Eqns (1) and (2) with respect to time to solve the equations i.e,

... qB0
x = ÿ
m  
qB0 qB0
= − ẋ
m m
qB0 2
 
...
x = − ẋ
m
on integrating
qB0 2
 
ẍ = − x+c
m
⇒ ẍ + ω 2 x = 0 (we have set c = 0)
qB0
and where ω =
m

4
which is an equation of a simple harmonic oscillator.
Therefore the particle executes simple harmonic motion in the x− direction.
Similarly,
 
... qB0
y = − ẍ
m
  
qB0 qB0
= − ẏ
m m
On integrating, we obtain
qB0 2
 
ÿ = − y+c
m
⇒ ÿ + ω 2 y = 0 (we have set c = 0)

which is an equation of a simple harmonic oscillator.

Therefore the particle executes simple harmonic motion in the y− direction.
We use a trial solution of the form

x = A sin(ωt + φ) (4)

From Eqn (2)

ÿ = −ω ẋ
On integrating, we obtain
ẏ = −ωx
= −ω (A sin(ωt + φ))

⇒ y = A cos(ωt + φ) (5)
From Eqn (4) and (5)

x2 + y 2 = A2 sin2 (ωt + φ) + A2 cos2 (ωt + φ)

= A2 sin2 (ωt + φ) + cos2 (ωt + φ)

x 2 + y 2 = A2 = r 2

Hence a charged particle in a uniform constant magnetic field executes circular motion in
the x − y plane. The z− component of velocity gives the particle displacement along the z−

5
direction resulting into a helical path with radius r = A.

The eqns of x and y describe a circular motion with angular velocity ω, linear velocity
~ × ~r and acceleration ~a = ω 2~r.
~v = ω

qB
The frequency of oscillation, ω0 = m is known as the cyclotron frequency. The radius,
r0 = ωv00 is the cyclotron radius.

4.4 Kinetic Energy of a Charged Particle in a Magnetic Field

 
F~ = q ~v × B
~

= m~a
q  ~

⇒ ~a = ~v × B
m
1
kinetic energy K = mv 2
2
Rate of change of kinetic energy
 
dK d 1 2
= mv
dt dt 2
 
1 d 2

= m v
2 dt
1 dv
= m(2v)
2 dt
dv
= mv
dt
d~v
But = ~a
dt
dK
⇒ = m~v · ~a
dt
q  ~

= m~v · ~v × B
m 
= q~v · ~v × B ~
dK
= 0
dt
 
~ .
Since ~v is perpendicular to ~v × B
Kinetic energy is constant. Kinetic energy of a particle in a magnetic field remains constant.

Applications
(a) The Cyclotron (Particle accelerator)
Used to produce high energy charged particles used for nuclear studies. It works on
the principle that a charged particle moving normal to a magnetic field experiences a
magnetic Lorentz force due to which the particle moves in a circular path.

The set up is enclosed in an evacuated chamber. D1 and D2 are deflecting elec-

trodes. The D electrodes are immersed in a uniform verticle magnetic field B ~ = B k̂.
1
The particles are accelerated every half ( 2 ) cycle by an oscillating electric field.

6
For periodic acceleration

cyclotron frequency = electric field frequency

ω0 = ωe
qB
where ω =
m  
~ = E~0 sin ωt
E +φ
2

In each cycle, the particle picks up energy due to oscillating field. The radius of motion
increases as
mv 2
qvB =
r
mv
⇒ r=
qB
until a maximum radius is reached at which the particle emerges with a definite energy
1
E= mv 2
2
= qV,

where V is the potential difference (p.d)

Example:
(i) A proton in a magnetic field of 1 Wbm−2 .
The cyclotron frequency for a proton
qB
ω0 =
m
1.6 × 10−19 × 1Wbm−2
=
1.6 × 10−27
8
= 10 Hz
ω0
⇒ f= = 1.6 × 107 Hz
2π

7
 (ii) An electron in a magnetic field of 1 Wbm−2
qB
ω0 =
m
1.6 × 10−19 × 1Wmb−2
=
9.11 × 10−31
= 2 × 1011 Hz
ω0
⇒ f= = 30 GHz
2π
q
(b) Mass Spectrometer: is used for determining the charge to mass ratio ( m ).

~ is constant magnetic field

B
S1 , S2 and S3 are slits
At slit S2 ; Acceleration: The ions are accelerated so that they all have the same kinetic
energy.
At slit S3 ; Deflection: The ions are then deflected by a magnetic field according to their
mass. The lighter are deflected more. Atoms or molecules are ionised by bombardment
with ionising radiation (x-rays, α, β, γ particles) or through electric discharge.
Let m be the mass of the particle,
v be the velocity at slit S3 ,
V be the potential difference across S2 , and
q be charge on the particle
The beam of ions passes through slits S1 , S2 and emerges through S3 . At S3 , ions have
the same velocity but different masses.  
Note: both electric and magnetic forces F~ = q E ~ + ~v × B
~ are independent of mass
of the charged particle.

On leaving S3 , the kinetic energy of the particle

1
K= mv 2
2
= qV

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 Velocity of the particle
 1
2qV 2
v= (4)
M
In the magnetic field, the centripetal force F~c is equal to the magnetic force F~m i.e,

F~c = F~m
mv 2
qvB =
r
q v
= (5)
m rB
Using Eqn (4),
 1
q 1 2qV 2
= ·
m rB m
 q 2 1 q
= 2 2 · 2V
m r B m
q 2V
⇒ = 2 2
m r B
q
V , B and r can be determined and charge to mass ratio ( m ) or m of the particle
calculated.

Exercise:

(i) A proton moves in a cyclotron in a uniform magnetic field of B = 5.6 × 10−4 Wbm−2
and emerge in a beam of energy 170 MeV.
Find the cyclotron frequency of the proton and the final radius of the circular orbit.

(ii) A heavy particle of charge equal to the electronic charge moves in a uniform and
constant electric field Ex = 500 Vm−1 in the x - direction. If the mass of the particle
is about 2000 times that of an electron and the particle was initially at the origin of
the coordinate system, find the displacement, explicitly after 2 seconds.