• When a current-carrying wire is placed in a magnetic field, it will experience a force if the wire is perpendicular
  • This is because the magnetic field exerts a force on each individual electron flowing through the wire

   

• Therefore, when a charged particle passes through a magnetic field, the field can exert a?force?on the particle, causing it to?deflect
  • The force is always at?90 degrees?to both the direction of travel and the magnetic field lines
  • The direction can be worked out by using?Fleming's left-hand rule

   

The electron experiences a force upwards when it travels through the magnetic field between the two poles

• If the particle is travelling?perpendicular?to the field lines:
  • It will experience the?maximum?force

   

• If the particle is travelling?parallel?to the field lines:
  • It will experience?no?force

   

• If the particle is travelling at an?angle?to the field lines:
  • It will experience a?small?force