MCQEasyJEE 2025Force on Moving Charge

JEE Physics 2025 Question with Solution

A particle of charge qq, mass mm, and kinetic energy EE enters in a magnetic field perpendicular to its velocity and undergoes a circular arc of radius rr. Which of the following curves represents the variation of rr with EE?

Four graph options of radius r versus kinetic energy E, labeled 1 to 4, showing linear increase, convex increase, decreasing curve, and concave increasing saturation-like curve.
  • A

    (1)

  • B

    (2)

  • C

    (3)

  • D

    (4)

Answer

Correct answer:D

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: A particle of charge qq and mass mm enters a magnetic field perpendicular to its velocity and moves in a circle of radius rr.

Find: The graph of rr versus kinetic energy EE.

For circular motion in a magnetic field,

r=mvqBr = \frac{mv}{qB}

Also, kinetic energy is

E=12mv2E = \frac{1}{2}mv^2

So,

v=2Emv = \sqrt{\frac{2E}{m}}

Substituting in the expression for rr,

r=mqB2Em=2mEqBr = \frac{m}{qB}\sqrt{\frac{2E}{m}} = \frac{\sqrt{2mE}}{qB}

Therefore,

rEr \propto \sqrt{E}

Hence rr increases with EE, but the rate of increase gradually decreases. So the required curve is option (4).

Therefore, the correct option is D.

Using force and energy relation

Given: Magnetic force provides the centripetal force for the charged particle.

Find: The correct rr-versus-EE graph.

Using magnetic force equals centripetal force,

mv2r=qvB\frac{mv^2}{r} = qvB

This gives

mv=qBrmv = qBr

Now,

E=12mv2E = \frac{1}{2}mv^2

Using v=qBrmv = \frac{qBr}{m},

E=12m(qBrm)2E = \frac{1}{2}m\left(\frac{qBr}{m}\right)^2 E=q2B2r22mE = \frac{q^2B^2r^2}{2m}

So,

r2Er^2 \propto E

which means

rEr \propto \sqrt{E}

Thus the graph is an increasing curve concave downward, matching option (4).

Therefore, the correct option is D.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming rEr \propto E is incorrect because radius depends on velocity, not directly on kinetic energy. First convert EE to vv using E=12mv2E = \frac{1}{2}mv^2, then substitute into the radius formula.

  • Choosing a decreasing graph is wrong because higher kinetic energy means higher speed, and for fixed qq and BB the radius r=mvqBr = \frac{mv}{qB} increases with speed. The radius cannot decrease with increasing EE here.

  • Confusing r2Er^2 \propto E with a straight-line graph of rr versus EE is a conceptual error. A straight line would represent rEr \propto E, whereas rEr \propto \sqrt{E} gives a curved graph.

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