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What is magnetic force?

Learn what magnetic force is and how to calculate it.

What is the magnetic force?

The magnetic force is a consequence of the electromagnetic force, one of the four fundamental forces of nature, and is caused by the motion of charges. Two objects containing charge with the same direction of motion have a magnetic attraction force between them. Similarly, objects with charge moving in opposite directions have a repulsive force between them.
In our article on magnetic fields we learned how moving charge surrounds itself with a magnetic field. In this context the magnetic force is a force that arises due to interacting magnetic fields.

How to find the magnetic force?

Consider two objects. The magnitude of the magnetic force between them depends on how much charge is in how much motion in each of the two objects and how far apart they are. The direction of the force depends on the relative directions of motion of the charge in each case.
The usual way to go about finding the magnetic force is framed in terms of a fixed amount of charge q moving at constant velocity v in a uniform magnetic field B. If we don't know the magnitude of the magnetic field directly then we can still use this method because it is often possible to calculate the magnetic field based on the distance to a known current.
The magnetic force is described by the Lorentz Force law:
F, with, vector, on top, equals, q, v, with, vector, on top, times, B, with, vector, on top
In this form it is written using the vector cross product. We can write the magnitude of the magnetic force by expanding the cross product. Written in terms of the angle theta (is less than, 180, degrees) between the velocity vector and the magnetic field vector:
start box, F, equals, q, v, B, sine, theta, end box
The direction of the force can be found using the right-hand-slap rule. This rule describes the direction of the force as the direction of a 'slap' of an open hand. As with the right-hand-grip rule, the fingers point in the direction of the magnetic field. The thumb points in the direction that positive charge is moving. If the moving charge is negative (for example, electrons) then you need to reverse the direction of your thumb because the force will be in the opposite direction. Alternatively, you can use your left hand for moving negative charge.
Using the right-hand-slap rule for the force due to a positive charge moving in a magnetic field.
Figure 1: Using the right-hand-slap rule for the force due to a positive charge moving in a magnetic field.
Sometimes we want to find the force on a wire carrying a current I in a magnetic field. This can be done by rearranging our previous expression. If we recall that velocity is a distance / time then if a wire has length L we can write
q, v, equals, start fraction, q, L, divided by, t, end fraction
and since current is the amount of charge flowing per second,
q, v, equals, I, L
and therefore
start box, F, equals, B, I, L, sine, theta, end box

Force on a wire

Exercise 1a:
Figure 2: Magnetic force on a wire.
Figure 2: Magnetic force on a wire.
Figure 2 shows a wire running through the north and south poles of a horseshoe magnet. A battery is connected to the wire which causes a current of 5, space, A to flow through the wire in the direction shown. If the magnetic field between the poles is known to be 0, point, 2, space, T, what is the magnitude and direction of the force on the 10, space, m, m section of wire between the poles?
Exercise 1b:
Suppose the magnet was shifted a little to the left so that the wire is now closer to the south pole of the magnet. Would you expect any change in the force on the wire?
Exercise 1c:
Suppose the strength of the magnet was not known. Can you suggest a way to modify this experiment to measure the strength of the magnetic field? Assume you have a ruler, string and some calibrated weights available.

Magnetic deflection of electrons in a cathode-ray tube

A cathode ray tube is an evacuated tube with an electron gun at one end and a phosphorescent screen at the other end. Electrons are ejected from the electron gun at high speed and impact the screen where a spot of light is produced on impact with the phosphor.
Because electrons have charge it is possible to deflect them in-flight with either the electric or magnetic force. Controlling the deflection allows the spot of light to be moved around the screen. Old style 'tube' televisions use this principle with magnetic deflection to form images by rapidly scanning the spot.
Exercise 2a:
Figure 3 shows a cathode ray tube experiment. A pair of coils are placed outside a cathode ray tube and produce a uniform magnetic field across the tube (not shown). In response to the field, the electrons are deflected and follow a path which is a segment of a circle as shown in the figure. What is the direction of the magnetic field?
Figure 3: Cathode ray tube experiment.
Figure 3: Cathode ray tube experiment.
Exercise 2b:
If the electrons are known to be ejected from the electron gun horizontally at a speed v of 2, dot, 10, start superscript, 7, end superscript, space, m, slash, s, what is the strength of the magnetic field? Assume that the radius of the circular path can be approximated by L, squared, slash, 2, d where L is the length of the tube and d is the horizontal deflection.

Want to join the conversation?

• what is electromagnetic induction
• what is left hand slap rule
• >Find out if the charge is negative or positive
>If positive use right hand, if negative use left hand
>hold left/right hand out in front of you
>point thumb in direction charge is going
>the way your palm is facing tells you which way the field is going
> ?
> profit.
• Is exercise 2b correct? The answer when I calculate it is 1.422 x 10^-4 T. Unless I'm entering the information in the calculator wrong, there maybe an arithmetic error here...

Here is what I punched in (even within google, you can copy and paste):
((9.1 * 10^-31) * (2 * 10^7)) / ((1.6 * 10^-19) * .8)
• Good spot. Perhaps they rounded it off to 3 significant figures.
• what does 'in/out of the page' mean?
• In the page means the vector is pointing straight perpendicular into the page/screen. Similar for out.
• "From the left-hand slap rule, we know that the magnetic force is perpendicular to the velocity. This is also the condition that gives rise to circular motion."

I don't understand how magnetic force when perpendicular to the velocity gives rise to circular motion?
• That's how you move in a circle, by constantly accelerating in a direction that is perpendicular to your velocity at that moment. Review circular motion.
• How was the formula F=qvB derived ? Can somebody explain?
• It's not derived, it's an empirical observation.
• plz explain 1c, why the wire gets deflected and how the weight is measured as well as the direction of magnetic field?
• In 1c, how is the weight being used in the process of calculating the force?
• I could not understand the exercise 2b solution. I have problem with the cathode ray tube experiment.
• I need more understanding.
(1 vote)
• If F=ma and F=BIL
is it safe to say that ma=BIL?