GREPhysics.NET: GR8677 #29

GR8677 #29

Problem

GREPhysics.NET Official Solution

Electromagnetism $\Rightarrow$ }Right Hand Rule

Note: this is a negative test charge. So, for the test charge, one has to either choose the opposite direction as that yielded by the Right Hand Rule or one could use the Left Hand Rule, which is just the RHR done with the left hand.

Suppose the current is a straight line pointing upwards along the page. The RHR for the current shows a magnetic field that's coming out of the page from the left side of the current and a field going into the page on the right side.

The problem wants the test charge to go parallel to the current. Applying the Lorentz Force, where $F\propto \vec{v}\times \vec{B}$ , one finds that no matter the direction of approach, the only way for the force to point parallel to the current is for the velocity to go towards the wire. (Check this: Suppose the charge comes in from the left; the force would point parallel to the current. Suppose the charge comes in from the right; the force would point parallel to the current, again.)

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Comments

dean
2008-10-09 21:45:23

I may be mistaken, but it seems to me the LHR yields the wrong answer here if used consistently (i.e. twice). Better to stick with the right hand (sorry southpaws) and remember sign.

neon37
2008-11-02 15:41:09

not really you are probably trying to figure out the direction of the magnetic field also with LHR. The direction of the field is always with the RHR. You could find the direction the test charge should go given the direction of the field and current, with LHR. I would also suggest sticking to RHR on the real exam. Might be confusing.

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darox
2006-11-29 06:59:15

actually, it cannot be B. the direction of the particle would be not parallel, but anti-parallel.

zaharakis
2007-01-05 09:31:42

Anti Parallel is still parallel

madfish
2007-11-02 12:11:27

not when you're talking about relative to a current

FortranMan
2008-10-19 13:14:30

I thought anti-parallel is still parallel too, until I looked at options (A) and (B).

This problem is deceptively simple, people. Remember that if the charge is moving towards the wire its velocity vector would be negative, but this negative can be canceled out if you are using a negative test charge, resulting in the positive force direction parallel to the positive current direction. In short, the sign of the charge can affect the vector.

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zaharakis
2006-11-02 14:25:53

The answer could also be B. The question states parallel to the direction of the current. B would produce a force in the opposite direction to the current but this is still parallel.

zaharakis
2007-01-05 09:31:14

Anti parallel is still parallel.

tau1777
2008-10-31 19:30:03

yeah, i did not realize this the first time i took the test. and as i was redoing it today it hit me, this confusing thing about parallel. i feel that they should be more direct but i guess that's just the ETS. i'll have to keep an eye on my common sense of things and try to see it their way, least until test day. bottom line: to the ETS antiparallel and parallel are different.

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actually, it cannot be B. the direction of the particle would be not parallel, but anti-parallel.

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