IB skill practice

Describe charged-particle motion in electromagnetic fields

Paper 1, Paper 2 5 marks Difficulty 3

Charged-particle circular radius

In a second version of the same physics investigation, a charged particle in a magnetic balance demonstration has mass \(0.003\,\text{kg}\), speed \(50\,\text{m s}^{-1}\), charge \(0.006\,\text{C}\), and enters a \(0.5\,\text{T}\) magnetic field at right angles. Calculate the path radius. Use the diagram first, then calculate the requested value. Enter the numerical result and choose the interpretation that matches the physics meaning.

Worked practice: physics data and result

Read the physical quantities first, then calculate the result and state what it means.