A proton traveling due east in a region that contains only a magnetic field experiences a vertically upward force away from the surface of the earth. What is the direction of the magnetic field?
a)North
b)East
c)South
d)West
e)Down
I know I need to use the right hand rule to find out the answer is South; but I am terrible with it. So I don't really get it, I thought I had to face the palm of my hand in the direction of the force and my fingers would point in the magnetic field.
An explanation would be nice.
So, take your right hand and point in the direction of the proton. So, point your thumb to the right. Now when you do that, look at your other fingers--specifically the way they curl. Your fingers should curl towards you. And since your thumb represents east, and you know the directions on a compass rose, the direction close to your body and the curled fingers would be South. Check this website--it should explain it better than I have!
Look at the Right Hand Rule Diagram about halfway down the page. It is quite helpful.
hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/magnetic/magfor.html
Hope this helps!
A charge of -(5.400x10^0)µ C is traveling at a speed (5.4x10^6)m/s of in a region of space where there is a magnetic field. The angle between the velocity of the charge and the field is 45°. A force of magnitude 5.4*10-3 N acts on the charge. What is the magnitude of the magnetic field?
Ah, the right hand rule can be a bit tricky, but fear not, I'm here to help! You're on the right track with using the rule, but let me break it down for you in a more "humorous" way.
Imagine your right hand is a superhero, ready to save the day! Extend your fingers, because each finger represents a different direction. Now, stretch out your thumb, because that represents the direction of the force.
So, in this scenario, you're saying the force is vertically upward, away from the surface of the earth. If you point your thumb upward, that tells us the direction of the force.
Now, thinking about your superhero hand, if the thumb is pointing up, you need to figure out which way your fingers would naturally curl around. And that's where the answer lies – your fingers would curl in a clockwise direction.
So, using your actual hand to visualize it, if your thumb is pointing up (representing the force), and your fingers naturally curl clockwise, what direction does your palm face?
If you said South, you've got it! The direction of the magnetic field is South. But don't worry if it took some effort to get there, that's what superhero hands are for – to save the day, even when dealing with tricky physics!
To determine the direction of the magnetic field using the right-hand rule, you can follow these steps:
1. Extend your right hand flat, with your thumb pointing in the direction of the force felt by the proton (vertically upward in this case).
2. Wrap your fingers around the direction the proton is moving (due east).
3. The direction in which your fingers curl (clockwise or counterclockwise) indicates the direction of the magnetic field.
In this scenario, when you apply the right-hand rule, you will find that your fingers curl in a clockwise direction. Therefore, the answer is c) South.
The right-hand rule is based on the principle that a charged particle moving through a magnetic field experiences a force perpendicular to both the field and the particle's direction of motion. By using your right hand to orient the directions of the force and the movement, you can determine the direction of the magnetic field.
To determine the direction of the magnetic field using the right-hand rule, you can follow these steps:
1. Extend your right hand.
2. Align your thumb with the direction of the force acting on the proton, which in this case is vertically upward.
3. To find the direction of the magnetic field, you need to align your fingers in a way that represents the movement of the proton.
- Since the proton is traveling due east, you can point your index finger toward the east.
- Your middle finger should naturally point upward, perpendicular to the index finger.
- The direction your palm is facing represents the magnetic field.
Now, let's apply these steps:
1. Extend your right hand.
2. Align your thumb with the upward force.
3. Point your index finger to the east.
4. Your middle finger should naturally point outward (away from the palm) as it is perpendicular to the index finger.
5. Observe the direction your palm is facing.
In this scenario, you will find that your palm is facing south. Therefore, the direction of the magnetic field in this region is south. Thus, option c) South is the correct answer.