An electron is moving with a constant velocity. When it...

An electron is moving with a constant velocity. When it enters an electric field that is perpendicular to its velocity, the electron will follow a _________ trajectory. When the electron enters a magnetic field that is perpendicular to its velocity, it will follow a ____________ trajectory.

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Key Concepts

Electric Field Dynamics

An electric field exerts a force on a charged particle in the direction of the field, leading to a constant acceleration when the particle enters the field. If the particle’s initial velocity is perpendicular to the electric field, this results in a trajectory that curves gradually, similar to the parabolic path seen in projectile motion.

Magnetic Field Dynamics

A magnetic field exerts a force on a moving charged particle that is always perpendicular to both its velocity and the field. This perpendicular force acts as a centripetal force, causing the particle to follow a circular trajectory when the velocity is entirely perpendicular to the field.

Lorentz Force

The Lorentz force law describes the combined effects of electric and magnetic fields on a charged particle. It is given by the vector sum of the electric force and the magnetic force, where the electric component leads to linear acceleration and the magnetic component produces circular motion when acting exclusively on a perpendicular velocity component.

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