This is the common problem of a charged particle moving in a static electric and magnetic field. S

Micah Haynes

Micah Haynes

Answered question

2022-05-08

This is the common problem of a charged particle moving in a static electric and magnetic field.
Say E = ( E x , 0 , 0 ) and B = ( 0 , 0 , B z )
In the inertial frame of reference, the equation of motion is (1):
d v d t = q B m × v + q m E
We can find equations for v x an v y and see that the resulting motion is a circular orbit with a constant drift velocity v d = E x B z .
Surely I should get the same answer if I solve the problem in a rotating frame of reference?
I know that (2):
d v d t | I n e r t i a l = d v d t | R o t a t i o n a l + ω × v ;
If I use Eq. (1) as the LHS of Eq. (2), and choose ω = q B m , then I get (3):
d v d t | R o t a t i o n a l = q m E ;
How do I obtain a constant drift velocity (as mentioned before) from this? Have I used any formula incorrectly? Does the electric field E= E = ( E x , 0 , 0 ) change form in the rotating frame?

Answer & Explanation

stormiinazlhdd

stormiinazlhdd

Beginner2022-05-09Added 12 answers

Sure you have to transform the fields too. Let's say that your system rotates around the z-axis, so B remains unchanged, but E will move around a circle in the rotating system, so its coordinates will be:
E = ( E x cos ( ω r o t t ) , E x sin ( ω r o t t ) , 0 )
where I used E x as an amplitude, and ω r o t as angular frequency of the rotating system.

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