Question

Suppose the surface of your dining room table is a magnetic field with the north pole at the north edge and the south pole at the south edge. If an electron passes through this field from ceiling to floor, which way will the path of the electron bend?

Group of answer choices

north

west

east

south

Answer 1

To determine the direction in which the path of the electron bends as it passes through a magnetic field, we can use the right-hand rule for charged particles.

1. We know the following about the magnetic field configuration:
- The north pole is at the north edge of the table and the south pole at the south edge, meaning the magnetic field lines point from north to south (down the table).

2. For an electron, which is negatively charged, we have to adjust the right-hand rule:
- Point your thumb in the direction of the electron's velocity (from ceiling to floor, which is down).
- Curl your fingers in the direction of the magnetic field (from north to south, which is horizontally along the table).

3. Since the electron is negatively charged, instead of using your right hand, use your left hand to follow the same steps. Your thumb points down (velocity of the electron), and your fingers curl towards the south (direction of the magnetic field).

4. Your palm will then point towards the east, which indicates the direction the electron will bend.

Thus, the path of the electron will bend towards the **east**.