The solar wind is a thin, hot gas given off by the sun. Charged particles in thi

Question

The solar wind is a thin, hot gas given off by the sun. Charged particles in this gas enter the magnetic field of the earth and can experience a magnetic force. Suppose a charged particle traveling with a speed of 8.85E+6 m/s encounters the earth's magnetic field at an altitude where the field has a magnitude of 1.15E-7 T. Assuming that the particle's velocity is perpendicular to the magnetic field, calculate the radius of the circular path on which the particle would move if it were an electron.

Explanation / Answer

for circular path,

centripetal force = m v^2 / r

q v B = m v^2 / r

r = m v / q B

r = (9.109 x 10^-31) (8.85 x 10^6) / (1.6 x 10^-19 x 1.15 x 10^-7)

r = 438 m .......Ans

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