Lorentz force
Appearance
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 (or law):
where
- F is the force (in newtons)
- E is the electric field (in volts per meter)
- B is the magnetic field (in webers per square meter, or equivalently, teslas)
- q is the electric charge of the particle (in coulombs)
- v is the instantaneous velocity of the particle (in meters per second)
- and × is the cross product.
Thus a positively charged particle will be accelerated in the same linear orientation as the E field, but will curve perpendicularly to the B field according to the right-hand rule.
Alternative form
Equivalently, we can express the Lorentz force law in terms of the electric charge density ρ and current density J as
F=Q/c[V*H]+Q*E
c = speed of light. if there is an electronic filed then you also have q*e
Applications
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
- Generators
- Motors
See also
Reference
- Serway and Jewett (2004). Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics. Thomson Brooks/Cole. ISBN 053440846X.