An electron of charge -e and a long straight wire carrying a current I to the right are both in the plane of the page, as shown above. In the position shown, the electron is a distance R from the wire and is moving directly toward it with speed v.

Question

What is the direction of the magnetic force on the electron when it is in this position?


Toward the bottom of the page

Into the plane of the page

Out of the plane of the page

To the left

To the right

Answer 1

The first think is to forget about the electron, and figure B. I assume your current I is not electron flow, but the arbitrary + charge carries, so right hand rule states that above the wire, the B is out of the page, and below the wire, into the page.

Now the right hand rule for forces, on + charges. a + charge will be deflected do the left, so the electron will be deflected to the right.

Now if the electron is below the wire, moving toward it, it will be deflected to the right (positive charge to the right (+ charge to the left)

http://physicsed.buffalostate.edu/SeatExpts/resource/rhr/rhr.htm

check those