Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2023

First exams 2025

|

Motion in Electromagnetic Fields (SL IB Physics)

Exam Questions

3 hours42 questions
1a
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3 marks

The diagram shows a current-carrying conductor at an angle θ to an external B field.

  1a-figure-1

   

The force acting on the current-carrying conductor when it lies at different angles to the field can be calculated using the equation

F space equals space B I L space sin space theta

 

State what the symbols B, I and L represent.

1b
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1 mark

State the angle, θ, between the conductor and the B field which would result in the largest force being exerted on the conductor.

1c
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1 mark

State the angle, θ, between the conductor and the B field which would result in there being no force exerted on the conductor from the B field.

1d
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3 marks

The conductor in the diagram in part (a) has a length of 1.2 m and a current of 0.85 A flowing through it. The conductor is placed at 30o to the B field, which has a magnetic flux density of 70 mT.

Calculate the force acting on the conductor.

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2a
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1 mark

The diagram shows a magnetic B field.

q2b-figure-2

   

State whether the magnetic field is acting into or out of the page.

2b
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2 marks

A circuit is built with a section of wire, between the points A and B, running perpendicular to a magnetic field.

q2c-figure-3

When the switch is closed, state the direction of:

(i)
The current through wire AB. 
[1]
(ii)
The force acting on wire AB.
[1]
2c
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2 marks

State two ways of increasing the size of the force acting on the current carrying conductor.

2d
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3 marks

When the force, the magnetic field and the current are all mutually perpendicular to each other, the directions of each can be interpreted using a technique known as Fleming's Left Hand Rule.

q2a-figure-1

State what is represented by the direction of:

(i)
The thumb
[1]
(ii)
The first finger
[1]
(iii)
The second finger
[1]

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3a
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2 marks

Define magnetic flux density.

3b
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1 mark

State the unit for magnetic flux density.

3c
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5 marks

A wire of length 15 cm has a mass of 30 g and current of 2.0 A flowing through it. When the wire is placed inside a uniform magnetic field it 'floats' in equilibrium in the magnetic field.

   

q3c-figure-1

   

(i)
Calculate the weight of the wire
[3]
     
(ii)
Hence determine the size of the force produced by the magnetic field acting on the wire when it is carrying current
[2]
3d
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3 marks

Calculate the magnetic flux density required to keep the wire ‘floating’ in equilibrium.

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4a
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5 marks

The equation used to calculate the force acting on a moving charged particle is

F space equals space q v B sin theta

  

State what each symbol in the above equation represents.

4b
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2 marks

A beam of electrons is fired into a uniform magnetic field of flux density 0.5 T, as shown. An electron enters the magnetic field at point A.

 q4b-figure-1

   

Draw an arrow, labelled F, from point A to show the direction of the force acting on the electron.

4c
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2 marks

The electron is travelling at a speed of 4.8 × 107 m s−1 in the magnetic field where magnetic flux density B = 0.5 T

Calculate the force on the electron when it enters the magnetic field and is travelling perpendicular to it.

4d
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4 marks

On your sketch, continue the path of the electron beam

(i)
Through the magnetic field
[2]
(ii)
After it has emerged from the magnetic field
[2]

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5a
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3 marks

When a moving charge enters a magnetic field the magnetic field produces a force on the charge, which can be calculated using

F space equals space q v B sin theta

   

where q = charge, v = velocity, B = magnetic flux density, and θ = the angle between the velocity of the charge and the direction of the magnetic field.

The magnetic force provides the centripetal force which causes the charge to move in a circular orbit. The equation to calculate centripetal force acting on an object is

F space equals fraction numerator m v squared over denominator r end fraction

 

where m = mass of the object, v = speed of the object and r = radius of the circular orbit.

Using the equations given above, show that the radius of the circular orbit of the charged object inside the magnetic field can be given as  

r space equals space fraction numerator m v over denominator q B end fraction
   
5b
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3 marks

State three ways of increasing the radius of the circular orbit.

5c
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3 marks

An electron is travelling at right angles to a uniform magnetic field which has a magnetic flux density of 5.6 mT. The speed of the electron is 3.0 × 106 m s–1.

Use the following information to calculate the radius of the circular orbit of the electron:

Mass of an electron, m = 9.11 × 10–31 kg
Charge of an electron, q = 1.60 × 10–19 C
5d
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1 mark

Name the particle accelerator which accelerates charged particles along a spiral path.

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1a
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3 marks

A proton of mass m and electric charge q enters a region of magnetic field at point P and exits at point Q. The speed of the proton at P is v. The path followed by the proton is a quarter of a circle.

q1_magnetic-effects-of-electric-currents_ib-sl-physics-sq-medium  

State and explain whether the speed of the proton at P is the same as the speed at Q.

1b
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2 marks

Outline why the path of the proton is circular.  

1c
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2 marks

Show that the radius of the circular path is given by Rfraction numerator m v over denominator q B end fraction, where B is the magnetic flux density.

1d
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2 marks

The speed of the proton is 3.2 × 106 ms–1 at P and the magnetic flux density is 0.21 T.

Show that the radius of the path is 16 cm.

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2a
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2 marks

The diagram shows a charged particle entering a region of magnetic field that is directed into the page.

q2_magnetic-effects-of-electric-currents_ib-sl-physics-sq-medium

The path of the particle is a quarter circle. 

Justify why the particle is positive.

2b
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3 marks

The proton enters the region with a speed of 5.4 × 106 ms–1. The magnetic flux density of the field is 0.35 T. 

Calculate the radius of the protons circular path.

2c
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3 marks

Calculate the time the proton spends in the region of the magnetic field.

2d
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3 marks

The diagram shows the path of a charged particle passing through a thin metallic foil.

q2d_magnetic-effects-of-electric-currents_ib-sl-physics-sq-medium 

State and explain the direction of motion of the particle and the sign of its charge.

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3a
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5 marks

Positive charges are seen passing through different magnetic fields. 

Determine the direction of the missing quantity between B, v and F for each:

q3a_magnetic-effects-of-electric-currents_ib-sl-physics-sq-medium
3b
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3 marks

The diagram shows two parallel plates. The electric field between them is directed from top to bottom and has a magnitude 2.6 × 103 N C–1. The shaded region is a region of magnetic field normal to the page.q3b_magnetic-effects-of-electric-currents_ib-sl-physics-sq-medium

Deduce the magnetic field magnitude and direction so that an electron experiences zero net force when travelling through the plates with a speed of 3.0 × 105 ms–1.

3c
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2 marks

Suggest and give a reason whether a proton shot with the same speed through the plates experiences zero net force.

3d
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3 marks

The electron’s speed is halved. 

Suggest whether the electron would still be undeflected for the same magnetic field found in (b).

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4a
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3 marks

In the national grid electricity is generated by current carrying wires within a magnetic field. 

There are two wires carrying equal currents into the page.

q4_magnetic-effects-of-electric-currents_ib-sl-physics-sq-medium 

Determine the direction of the magnetic field at point X.    

Use a diagram to help you with your answer.

4b
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2 marks

A bar magnet is placed in a uniform magnetic field as shown in the diagram.

q4b_magnetic-effects-of-electric-currents_ib-sl-physics-sq-medium 

Suggest whether there is a net force on the bar magnet, causing it to move to a different position. Explain your answer.

4c
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2 marks

The bar magnet does move in a specific type of motion. Determine how it will move.

4d
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2 marks

A taut electrical wire carries electricity between a generator and the step-up transformer. The current is 2000 A and the magnetic field of the Earth at the position of the wire is 4.50 × 10–5 T and makes an angle of 45⁰ below the horizontal. 

Calculate the force experienced by a 25.0 m length of this wire.

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1a
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3 marks

Alpha particles travel in a vacuum at speed v and enter an area where there is a uniform magnetic field of flux density B. In this area, it begins to move in a circular trajectory. 

Show that the momentum of a single alpha particle is given by:

p equals 2 e B r

where e is the elementary charge and r is the orbital radius.   

1b
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3 marks

An alpha particle moves across the Earth's equator towards the east. At this point, the Earth's magnetic field has a direction due north and is parallel to the surface.

Deduce the direction of the force acting on the alpha particle at this instant. 

1c
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3 marks

Charged particles from the sun, carried by the 'solar wind', may become trapped in the Earth's magnetic field near its poles, causing the sky to glow. Some of these charged particles travel in a circle of radius 45 km in a region where the flux density is 6.0 × 10–5 T. 

Show that these charged particles cannot be electrons. 

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2a
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3 marks

Two electrons, X and Y, enter a uniform magnetic field with the same speed.

X enters the field at an angle of 30° and experiences a magnetic force F subscript X. Y travels perpendicular to the field and experiences a magnetic force F subscript Y.

Determine the ratio F subscript X over F subscript Y.

2b4 marks

Using a suitable calculation, compare and contrast the motion of X and Y as they travel in the field.

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3a
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2 marks

A cylindrical aluminium bar XY of mass 5.0 g rests on two horizontal aluminium rails, separated by 5.0 cm. 

sl-sq-5-4-hard-q2c

The rails can be connected to a battery to drive a current of 4.5 A through XY. A magnetic field of flux density 0.15 T acts into the screen. 

Calculate the angle to the horizontal to which the rails must be tilted in order to keep XY stationary. 

3b
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3 marks

A similar metal rod is suspended in a magnetic field by two identical, vertical springs. The cell and the rod have negligible internal resistance. 

sl-sq-5-4-hard-q2d

When the switch S is closed, the metal rod is displaced a distance x from its starting point. 

Show that, when both the spring constant and electrical resistance of each spring is doubled, closing S would cause the rod to be displaced by x over 4

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4a
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2 marks

A beam of electrons, each travelling at various speeds, passes through a hole in plate P1. Pis parallel to P1, also with a hole in it. The region between the plates contains a uniform electric field and a uniform magnetic field. Both the electric field strength and the magnetic flux density B are adjustable. 

sl-sq-5-4-hard-q3a

Electrons that are undeviated travel with a particular speed v along the straight line joining the holes in P1 and P2

Deduce the direction of the electric field between the plates.

4b
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2 marks

Mark with an X a position on P2 that would indicate where electrons with a speed greater than v may strike P2

4c
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3 marks

The equipment is adjusted such that a single electron is shot with kinetic energy K through the hole in P1. The distance between the plates d is fixed, and electric field is switched off, such that the electron is incident in a region of uniform magnetic flux density only. 

Show that the maximum magnetic flux density Bmax that ensures the electron reaches P2 is given by:

B subscript m a x end subscript equals fraction numerator square root of 2 m subscript e K end root over denominator e d end fraction

where me is the rest mass of the electron and e is its charge. 

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5a
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2 marks

The image shows the main features of a loudspeaker L. A current-carrying coil is positioned within the magnetic field provided by a permanent magnet, and the current directions in the coil at a particular instant is shown. 

sl-sq-5-4-hard-q5a

The dust cap D prevents dust from blocking the gap between the cardboard tube and the south pole of the magnet. 

Identify, on the diagram, the direction of the force on the coil at this particular instant with the current directions shown. 

5b
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2 marks

Describe how the magnitude and direction of the force on the coil varies over a complete cycle. 

5c
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3 marks

The coil consists of 200 turns, each of average diameter 2.0 cm. The magnetic flux density created by the permanent magnet is 0.40 mT. The peak current in the coil is 0.48 mA.

Calculate the maximum magnetic force on the coil. 

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