An electron travels due west in a horizontal plane at a constant altitude of 5 cm…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Moving Charges and Magnetism · Moving Charges and Magnetism
Problem
An electron travels due west in a horizontal plane at a constant altitude of 5 cm above a tabletop. At the instant the electron passes directly over a mark on the table, an observation point R is located 5 cm directly above the electron (that is, 10 cm above the tabletop). Assume no other fields are present.
(1) Determine the direction of the magnetic field at Point R produced by the moving electron. Express the direction using "upward," "downward," "north," "south," "east," or "west."
(2) The electron slows down but continues to travel due west. Does the direction of the magnetic field at Point R change as the speed decreases? Explain your answer.
(3) Suppose, instead, a proton with the same instantaneous speed travels due east at the same altitude over the mark on the table. Determine the direction of the magnetic field at Point R in this new scenario and explain how you reached your conclusion.