Question

A positively charged particle travels horizontally northward and enters a region where a field may exist. This region may contain only a magnetic field, only an electric field, or both a magnetic field and an electric field. When the particle enters the region, the particle does not speed up or slow down, but it does deflect in the downward direction. What is correct about the field or fields within the region and provides correct reasoning?

Answer 1

When a positively charged particle enters a region with a magnetic field, it deflects in the downward direction without changing speed, indicating that the magnetic field is the dominant factor affecting its motion.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a positively charged particle enters a region with a magnetic field, it does not speed up or slow down but deflects in the downward direction. This indicates that the magnetic field is the dominant factor influencing the motion of the particle. Since the particle follows a curved path in the magnetic field and does not change speed, the magnetic force must be perpendicular to the velocity. This is due to the fact that a magnetic force only affects the direction of motion and not the magnitude.

Answer 2

Only magnetic field present

Step-by-step explanation:

Since, the positively charged particle does not speed up or slow down, but it does deflect in the downward direction. This means only magnetic field is present.

This is because electric field changes the velocity and magnetic field changes the direction.

The magnetic force F is given by

F = qvBsinθ

Where, q = charge magnitude, v = velocity of charge, B = strength of magnetic field. and θ =the angle between the directions of v and B.