1. What is the Lorentz Force?

The Lorentz force is the combination of electric and magnetic force on a point charge due to electromagnetic fields. For a moving charged particle in a magnetic field, the magnetic component of the Lorentz force is perpendicular to both the velocity of the particle and the magnetic field.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Lorentz force equation:

Where:

• \( F \) — Lorentz force (N)
• \( q \) — Electric charge (C)
• \( v \) — Velocity of the charge (m/s)
• \( B \) — Magnetic field strength (T)
• \( \theta \) — Angle between velocity and magnetic field vectors (degrees)

Explanation: The force is maximum when the charge moves perpendicular to the field (θ = 90°) and zero when moving parallel (θ = 0°).

3. Importance of Lorentz Force Calculation

Details: The Lorentz force is fundamental in electromagnetism, explaining phenomena like the Hall effect, cyclotron motion, and the operation of electric motors and particle accelerators.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter charge in coulombs, velocity in m/s, magnetic field in teslas, and angle in degrees. All values must be positive (except angle which should be 0-180°).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the direction of the Lorentz force?
A: It follows the right-hand rule: thumb (v), index finger (B), middle finger (F) for positive charges (reverse for negative).

Q2: What if θ = 0° or 180°?
A: The force will be zero as sin(0°) = sin(180°) = 0.

Q3: What units should I use?
A: Use SI units: coulombs (C), meters/second (m/s), teslas (T).

Q4: Does this include the electric field component?
A: This calculator only includes the magnetic component (F = qv×B). The full Lorentz force would include qE.

Q5: What's a typical value for q?
A: For single electrons/protons, q = ±1.6×10⁻¹⁹ C. Macroscopic charges are typically in microcoulombs to coulombs.