“Derive” the Lorentz force law, as follows: Let chargeqbe at rest inS, so F=qE, and let Smove with velocityv=vxwith respect to S. Use the transformation rules (Eqs. 12.67 and 12.109) to rewrite Fin terms of F, and Ein terms of E and B. From these, deduce the formula for F in terms of E and B.

Short Answer

Expert verified

The Lorentz force is deduced asF=qE+q(v×B)

Step by step solution

01

Expression for Maxwell’s equation:

Using equation 12.67, write the equation for the transformation of forces from one frame to another frame.

F1=1yFF1=F1

Here, y is the constant pertains to the relative motion between the two frames.

02

Deduce the Lorentz force law:

Write the expression for the force acting on the charge in the frame S.

F=qE

Here, q is the charge and Eis the electric field.

Write the above expression in a vector form.

F=qExx^+qEyy^+qEzz^

Here, Ex,Eyand Ezare the components of an electric field in the frame .

Write the expression for the force acting on the charge in frame S.

F=Fxx^+Fyy^+Fzz^ …… (1)

Here, Fx,Fyand Fzare the components of the forces in frame S.

Write the equations for the component of the forces of frame S in terms of the component of the forces of the frame .

Fx=qExFy=1γqE¯yFz=1γqE¯z

Using equation 12.109, the above component of the forces becomes,

Fx=qExFy=1γq(γ(Ey-vBz))=q(Ey-vBz)Fz=1γq(γ(Ez+vBz))=q(Ez-vBy)

Substitute qExfor Fx,q(Ey-vBz)for Fyand q(Ez+vBy)Fzfor Fzin equation (1).

F=qExx^+q(Ey-vBz)y^+q(Ez+vBy)z^F=q(Exx^+Eyy^+Ezz^)-q(vBz)y^+(vBy)z^.......(2)

Here, q(vBz)y^+(vBy)z^and q(Exx^+Eyy^+Ezz^)=qE.

Hence, the equation (2) becomes,

F=qE+q(v×B)

Therefore, the Lorentz force law is deduced.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

A straight wire along thez-axis carries a charge densityλtraveling in the +z direction at speed v. Construct the field tensor and the dual tensor at the point role="math" localid="1654331549769" (x,0,0).

(a) Show that (EB)is relativistically invariant.

(b) Show that (E2-c2B2)is relativistically invariant.

(c) Suppose that in one inertial systemB=0but E0(at some point P). Is it possible to find another system in which the electric field is zero atP?

Inertial system S¯moves in the xdirection at speed 35crelative to systemS. (Thex¯axis slides long thexaxis, and the origins coincide at t=t¯=0, as usual.)

(a) On graph paper set up a Cartesian coordinate system with axesrole="math" localid="1658292305346" ct and x. Carefully draw in lines representingx¯=-3,-2,-1,0,1,2,and3. Also draw in the lines corresponding to ct¯=-3,-2,-1,0,1,2,, and3. Label your lines clearly.

(b) InS¯, a free particle is observed to travel from the point x¯=-2,at timect¯=-2to the point x¯=2, atct¯=+3. Indicate this displacement on your graph. From the slope of this line, determine the particle's speed in S.

(c) Use the velocity addition rule to determine the velocity in Salgebraically,and check that your answer is consistent with the graphical solution in (b).

Prove that the symmetry (or antisymmetry) of a tensor is preserved by Lorentz transformation (that is: if tμvis symmetric, show thatt¯μv is also symmetric, and likewise for antisymmetric).

In the past, most experiments in particle physics involved stationary targets: one particle (usually a proton or an electron) was accelerated to a high energy E, and collided with a target particle at rest (Fig. 12.29a). Far higher relative energies are obtainable (with the same accelerator) if you accelerate both particles to energy E, and fire them at each other (Fig. 12.29b). Classically, the energy E¯of one particle, relative to the other, is just 4E(why?) . . . not much of a gain (only a factor of 4). But relativistically the gain can be enormous. Assuming the two particles have the same mass, m, show that

E=2E2mc2=mc2 (12.58)

FIGURE 12.29

Suppose you use protons (mc2=1GeV)with E=30GeV. What Edo you get? What multiple of E does this amount to? (1GeV=109electronvolts)[Because of this relativistic enhancement, most modern elementary particle experiments involve colliding beams, instead of fixed targets.]

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free