Question

A particle accelerator sends high-velocity charged particles down an evacuated pipe. Explain how a coil of wire wrapped around the pipe could detect the passage of individual particles. Sketch a graph of the voltage output of the coil as a single particle passes through it.

a) As a charged particle passes through the coil, it induces a current due to Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction.

b) The coil produces a constant voltage as the particle moves through.

c) The voltage output is not affected by the passage of charged particles.

d) The coil produces a voltage spike when a particle passes through.

Answer 1

A coil of wire wrapped around a particle accelerator pipe can detect individual particles by using Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction. The voltage output of the coil would show a spike when a single particle passes through it.

Step-by-step explanation:

A coil of wire wrapped around the pipe of a particle accelerator can detect the passage of individual particles through the principles of Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction. As a charged particle travels through the coil, it creates a changing magnetic field, which induces a voltage in the coil. This voltage can be measured and used to detect the presence of the particle.

When a single particle passes through the coil, the voltage output of the coil would typically show a voltage spike. This is because the particle's passage through the coil causes a sudden change in the magnetic field, resulting in a brief but significant voltage increase. A graph of the voltage output would show a sharp peak corresponding to the passage of the particle.