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An electron is traveling in the positive x direction. A uniform electric field E is in the negative y direction. If a uniform magnetic field with the appropriate magnitude and direction also exists in the region, the total force on the electron will be zero. The appropriate direction for the magnetic field is:

A. out of the page.
B. the negative x direction.
C. the positive y direction.
D. the negative y direction.
E. into the page.

User Karisma
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The magnetic field must be directed into the page (Option E) to create a force that would cancel out the electric field acting on the electron, according to the right-hand rule applied inversely for the negatively charged electron.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question involves a scenario where an electron is traveling in the positive x-direction and there is a presence of a uniform electric field in the negative y-direction. To neutralize the force on the electron, we need to apply a magnetic field. According to the right-hand rule, for an electron (which has a negative charge), the force due to the magnetic field is in the opposite direction to what you would expect for a positive charge. Therefore, to balance the electric field force acting downwards (negative y-direction), the magnetic force must be acting upwards (positive y-direction) to sum to zero. However, since electrons are negatively charged, the direction of the magnetic field necessary to exert an upward force is opposite to what the right-hand rule would suggest for a positive charge. Taking into account the electron's velocity is in the positive x-direction, the appropriate direction for the magnetic field so that it exerts the correct upward force on the negatively charged electron is into the page (Option E).

User Gtrig
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