How do magnetic fields affect moving charges?

Moving charges are affected by magnetic fields, as they experience a force perpendicular to their motion.

When a charged particle moves through a magnetic field, it experiences a force that is perpendicular to both the direction of its motion and the direction of the magnetic field. This force is known as the Lorentz force, and it is given by the equation F = qvBsinθ, where q is the charge of the particle, v is its velocity, B is the magnetic field strength, and θ is the angle between the velocity and the magnetic field.

The direction of the force is given by the right-hand rule, which states that if you point your thumb in the direction of the velocity, and your fingers in the direction of the magnetic field, then the force will be perpendicular to both. If the charge is moving parallel to the magnetic field, there will be no force on it. If it is moving at an angle to the field, the force will be perpendicular to both, causing the particle to move in a circular path.

This effect is used in a variety of applications, such as in particle accelerators, where charged particles are accelerated by magnetic fields, and in electric motors, where the interaction between magnetic fields and moving charges causes the motor to rotate. Understanding the interaction between magnetic fields and moving charges is therefore crucial in many areas of physics and engineering.