Lorentz force

From Free net encyclopedia

In physics, the Lorentz force is the force exerted on a charged particle in an electromagnetic field. The particle will experience a force due to electric field of qE, and due to the magnetic field qv × B. Combined they give the Lorentz force equation (or law):

<math>\mathbf{F} = q (\mathbf{E} + \mathbf{v} \times \mathbf{B}),</math>

where

F is the force (in newtons)

E is the electric field (in volts per meter)

B is the magnetic field (in webers per square meter, or equivalently, teslas)

q is the electric charge of the particle (in coulombs)

v is the instantaneous velocity of the particle (in meters per second)

and × is the cross product.

Thus a positively charged particle will be accelerated in the same linear orientation as the E field, but will curve perpendicularly to the B field according to the right-hand rule.

Contents 1 Alternative form 2 Applications 3 See also 4 Reference 5 External references

Alternative form

Equivalently, we can express the Lorentz force law in terms of the electric charge density ρ and current density J as

<math>\mathbf{F} = \int_V ( \rho \mathbf{E} + \mathbf{J} \times \mathbf{B}) \cdot dV</math>

Applications

The Lorentz force is a principle exploited in many devices including:

• Cyclotrons and other circular path particle accelerators
• Homopolar generators
• Magnetrons
• Magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters
• Mass spectrometers
• Railguns
• Generators
• Motors

See also

• Hendrik Lorentz
• Electromagnetism
• Maxwell's equations
• Gravitomagnetism

Reference

• Template:Cite bookcs:Lorentzova síla

da:Lorentzkraft de:Lorentzkraft es:Fuerza de Lorentz fr:Force de Lorentz ko:로렌츠 힘 it:Forza di Lorentz he:כוח לורנץ nl:Lorentzkracht ja:ローレンツ力 sl:Lorentzova sila zh:洛仑兹力

External references

• Lorentz force (animation)