Class 12 Physics simulations · Moving Charges and Magnetism

Helical motion in a magnetic field

Launch a proton at an angle to a magnetic field and separate circular and forward motion.

Open the simulation

What to notice

A parallel velocity adds forward travel without altering the circular component.

Key relation

r = mv⊥/(qB); pitch = v∥·2πm/(qB)

Try this

Set the angle to 90° to get a circle with zero pitch.

What you can change

• Proton speed: 1 to 10 ×10⁵ m/s
• Magnetic field: 0.1 to 1 T
• Angle to field: 0 to 90 °

More in Moving Charges and Magnetism

• Cyclotron frequency
• Force on a current-carrying wire
• Magnetic field on the axis of a loop
• Charged particle in a field
• Galvanometer to ammeter or voltmeter
• Moving-coil galvanometer
• Force between parallel currents
• Magnetic field inside a solenoid
• Crossed fields: the velocity selector

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