Lorentz Force Calculator
Calculate the force on a charge moving through a magnetic field.
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Enter the charge, velocity, magnetic field strength, and the angle between velocity and field. The calculator computes the Lorentz force and, for perpendicular motion, the circular orbit radius.
About Lorentz Force
The Lorentz force describes the interaction between moving charges and magnetic fields. It is perpendicular to both the velocity and the magnetic field, causing charged particles to curve rather than speed up or slow down. This force is the basis for electric motors, particle accelerators, mass spectrometers, and the Aurora Borealis. The direction follows the right-hand rule for positive charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Lorentz force?
The Lorentz force is the force on a charged particle moving through a magnetic field. It equals the charge times velocity times the magnetic field strength times the sine of the angle between velocity and field.
Why does the angle matter?
The force is maximum when the velocity is perpendicular to the magnetic field (90 degrees) and zero when they are parallel (0 or 180 degrees).
What path does a charged particle follow in a magnetic field?
A charge moving perpendicular to a uniform magnetic field follows a circular path. The radius of this circular orbit equals mv/(qB).