The force acting on a charged particle in an external magnetic field does NOT depend on which of the following factors?

The correct answer is Mass of the particle.

Key Points

• The force acting on a charged particle in an external magnetic field is given by the Lorentz force equation: F = q(v × B), where F is the force, q is the charge, v is the velocity, and B is the magnetic field.
• According to the Lorentz force equation, the force depends on the magnitude of the magnetic field, the charge of the particle, and the velocity of the particle.
• The mass of the particle does not appear in the Lorentz force equation, indicating that the force is independent of the particle's mass.
• The direction of the force is given by the right-hand rule, which is perpendicular to both the velocity of the particle and the magnetic field.

Additional Information

• Lorentz Force
  • The Lorentz force is the combination of electric and magnetic force on a point charge due to electromagnetic fields.
  • It can be expressed as F = q(E + v × B), where E represents the electric field.
  • This force is fundamental in electromagnetism and explains the behavior of charged particles in electric and magnetic fields.
• Right-Hand Rule
  • The right-hand rule is a mnemonic for understanding the direction of the magnetic force on a positive moving charge.
  • Point your thumb in the direction of the velocity (v), your fingers in the direction of the magnetic field (B), and your palm faces the direction of the force (F).
• Magnetic Fields
  • Magnetic fields exert a force on moving charges, which is perpendicular to both the velocity of the charge and the direction of the magnetic field.
  • The SI unit of magnetic field strength is the Tesla (T).
• Charged Particles
  • Charged particles, such as electrons or protons, experience forces when moving through magnetic fields, resulting in circular or spiral trajectories.
  • This behavior is utilized in devices like cyclotrons and synchrotrons for particle acceleration.