LORENTZ FORCE LAW

LORENTZ FORCE LAW

Force on a charge q moving through an external
magnetic field B with a velocity v, is given
by

EXAMPLE: CHARGE WITHIN A MAGNETIC FIELD

Consider a positive charge, moving with a velocity v within a magnetic B as shown below. Notice that the
magnetic field is out of the paper.

The force on the charge is

towards the center of a circle.
Consequently, the charge
moves in a circle.

Use the Java applet shown below to experiment with the motion of a charge within a magnetic field.
With this applet, you can change the x, y, z components of the velocity and magnetic field.

Included within this applet are instructions, and a simple experiment to move the charge in a circle. Its
a very useful applet ... take some time to experiment with it!

FORCE ON A WIRE
For a wire carrying a current I in an external magnetic field, as shown below, the electrons within the wire are

forced in a direction specified by

. The wire will move out of the paper if released.

Within a copper wire, electrons move randomly with speeds typically 10 6 m/s, with no net drift. If a
current flows through the wire, then in addition to this random motion, the electrons will drift with
speeds that are typically 10-4 m/s. i.e. the drift velocity

= 10-4 m/s

We can express the Lorentz force law in terms of an element of the wire of length dl via the following simple
derivation.

Let I be the current flowing through a wire of cross-sectional area A.

For a length x if the wire, if n is the number of electrons per unit volume, then the total charge in a
length x of the wire is given by

Hence, the charge within an element of length dl, is given by

CONSTANT CURRENT

IN GENERAL

Current flowing through wire

Instantaneous current

Total charge within a length x of wire

If the electrons cover a distance x in a time t, then the drift Instantaneous

drift

velocity

velocity of an electron

Force on a single electron

Force on a single electron

The angle is the angle between dx and B. To explain this,

consider a single electron in the wire as shown below.

The force on a single electron

. But

. Hence
Total force on all the electrons within a length x of the wire

Total force on all the electrons

within a length dx of the wire

Note the direction of dx is taken to

be that of the current.

EXAMPLE I: Wire in a Magnetic field

Consider a wire with current I in a uniform magnetic field as shown below
The force on an element of
the wire of length dl is given

by
Total force on a length L of

the wire =

EXAMPLE

II

Consider a rectangular coil of wire in a magnetic field as shown below.

SIDE VIEW

TOP VIEW

Constant current flowing anti-clockwise in

the wire loop of height a and width b

For side BD, direction of

paper

is into

MOTOR

(a) Notice that at the point of rotation shown in the above diagram, the force on side AB and CD is zero.
Howver, As this rectangular wire rotates, the force on these two sides is non-zero. Does this effect the
rotation ?
(b) Are the forces

and

constant in magnitude throughout a given rotation ?