Question

The microwaves in a microwave oven are produced in a special tube called a magnetron. The electrons orbit the magnetic field at 2.4 GHz, and as they do so they emit 2.4 GHz electromagnetic waves. What is the strength of the magnetic field?

Answer 1

The magnetic field is 0.0857 T.

Step-by-step explanation:

The electrons orbit the magnetic field with a centripetal force equal to

F =
`(mv^(2) )/(r)`

also, the force on an electron in a magnetic field is gotten as

F = Bqv

equating this two equations give

`(mv^(2) )/(r)` = Bqv

mv/r = Bq

where m is the mass of the electron = 9.11 x 10^-31 kg

v is the the linear speed of the electron

B is the magnetic field on the electron

r is the radius of the orbital movement

q is the charge on an electron = 1.602 x 10^-19 C

but, the linear speed v = ωr

where ω is the angular speed of the electron

substituting into equation above, we have

mωr/r = Bq

which reduces to

mω = Bq

finally, w know that the angular speed is related to the frequency of the electron by

ω = 2πf

we then finally have

2mπf = Bq

where f is the frequency emitted by the electron = 2.4 GHz = 2.4 x 10^9 Hz

substituting values into the equation, we have

2 x 9.11 x 10^-31 x 3.142 x 2.4 x 10^9 = B x 1.602 x 10^-19

B = (1.3734 x 10^-20)/(1.602 x 10^-19) = 0.0857 T

= 85.7 mT