Force on moving charge in magnetic field
A charged particle moving through a magnetic field experiences a magnetic force perpendicular to both velocity and field: F = qvB sin(θ) where q is charge, v is velocity, B is magnetic flux density, and θ is angle between v and B.
Formula
F = qvB sin(θ)
Real World
The Large Hadron Collider at CERN uses powerful magnetic fields to bend proton beams into circular paths — without the perpendicular magnetic force, the protons would travel in straight lines and never collide.
Exam Focus
Always state the direction using the right-hand rule and confirm force is perpendicular to velocity; forgetting sin(θ) loses marks.
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