A positively charged particle travels through empty space along a straight line at a…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Moving Charges and Magnetism · Moving Charges and Magnetism
Problem
A positively charged particle travels through empty space along a straight line at a constant speed. At a particular instant the particle passes the point labelled O in such a way that the line from the particle to point P makes a 60∘ angle with the particle’s velocity vector. A second, identical particle moves along the same path at the same speed, but it is observed when the line from the particle to point P is exactly perpendicular to the particle’s velocity.
Assume point P is the same distance from the path in both situations.
(a) Describe qualitatively how the magnitude of the magnetic field at point P produced by the first particle compares with that produced by the second particle.
(b) Explain your reasoning in part (a) in terms of relevant physical quantities and geometric relationships.
(c) At what orientation of the particle’s velocity relative to the line connecting the particle to point P would the magnetic field magnitude at P be zero? Justify your answer.