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Moving Charges and Magnetism appeared 42 times across 3 years — 4.9% of Physics. This question is from Motion of Charged Particle in Magnetic Field.

Year 2026 2025 2024 Total
Questions 9 18 15 42

Uniform magnetic fields of different strengths (B₁ and B₂) , both normal to the plane of the paper exist as shown in the figure. A charged particle of mass m and charge q , at the interface at an instant, moves into the region 2 with velocity v and returns to the interface. It continues to move into region 1 and finally reaches the interface. What is the displacement of the particle during this movement along the interface?
Motion of Charged Particle in Magnetic Field
Motion of Charged Particle in Magnetic Field
(Consider the velocity of the particle to be normal to the magnetic field and B₂ > B₁ )

Solution & Explanation

Related Formula

The radius of a circular trajectory of a charged particle in a uniform magnetic field perpendicular to its velocity is:

R = (mv)/(qB)
Core Logic

Starting point arrow A

Ending point arrow C

Net displacement = AC

AC = CD - AD

AC = (2mv)/(qB₁) - (2mv)/(qB₂)

AC = (2mv)/(qB₁) [ 1 - (B₁)/(B₂) ]

Pattern Recognition

Sees: Particle traversing two different perpendicular fields across an interface. Shortcut: The displacement on completing a loop across a boundary between two fields always equals 2(Rlarge - Rsmall). Factoring out the term with B₁ in the denominator leaves the factor (1 - B₁/B₂).

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Moving Charges and Magnetism

Interface path and circular orbits layout
Interface path and circular orbits layout

More Moving Charges and Magnetism Previous-Year Questions — Page 6

Q jee_main_2025_28_jan_evening Biot Savart Law
An infinite wire has a circular bend of radius a , and carrying a current I as shown in figure. The magnitude of magnetic field at the origin O of the arc is given by:
Biot Savart Law diagram for Q16 - JEE Main 2025 Evening
An infinite current carrying wire presenting a three-quarter circular bend around center origin O.
  • A. (μ₀)/(4π)(I)/(a)[(π)/(2) + 1]
  • B. (μ₀)/(4π) Ia[(3π)/(2) +1]
  • C. (μ₀)/(2π)(1)/(a)[(π)/(2) + 2]
  • D. (μ₀)/(4π)(I)/(a)[(3π)/(2) + 2]

Solution

Related Formula

The magnetic field contributions from unique structural line elements are given by:

  • Semi-infinite straight wire segment at a distance perpendicular to its end tip:
Bstraight = (μ₀ I)/(4π a)
  • Circular arc path segment subtending an angle θ at the center:
Barc = (μ₀ I)/(4π a) θ
Core Logic

Let us decompose the structure into three functional parts as mapped out below:

Biot Savart Law structural analysis diagram for Q16
An infinite current carrying wire presenting a three-quarter circular bend around center origin O.

  • Segment 1 (Incoming semi-infinite line): The straight line extends to infinity, with its terminating tip at a perpendicular distance a from origin O. Using the right-hand grip rule, the direction points into the page:
B₁ = (μ₀ I)/(4π a) ( )
  • Segment 2 (Three-quarter circular loop): The loop forms an angle of θ = (3π)/(2) radians around O. The field points into the page:
B₂ = (μ₀ I)/(4π a) ((3π)/(2)) ( )
  • Segment 3 (Outgoing semi-infinite line): This line aligns perfectly with the origin O along its vector axis, making θ = 0:
  • B₃ = 0

    Summing the total fields via superposition:

B = B₁ + B₂ + B₃ = (μ₀ I)/(4π a) + (μ₀ I)/(4π a)((3π)/(2)) B = (μ₀ I)/(4π a) [(3π)/(2) + 1]
Pattern Recognition

Always check the axis alignment first. Any straight wire segment whose extended line passes directly through the field point contributes exactly zero to the total magnetic field value.

Q jee_main_2025_29_jan_morning Ampere\'s Circuital Law
Consider a long straight wire of a circular cross-section (radius a) carrying a steady current I. The current is uniformly distributed across this cross-section. The distances from the centre of the wire\'s cross-section at which the magnetic field [inside the wire, outside the wire] is half of the maximum possible magnetic field, any where due to the wire, will be
  • A. [a / 4,3a / 2]
  • B. [ a2, 2a]
  • C. [a / 2,3a]
  • D. [a / 4,2a]

Solution

Related Formula
B = (μ₀ I)/(2π a) Bᵢₙ = (μ₀ I r)/(2π a²), Bout = (μ₀ I)/(2π r)
Core Logic

The maximum magnetic field occurs right at the wire\'s outer boundary surface (r=a) :

B = (μ₀ I)/(2π a)

We need positions where B = B2 = (μ₀ I)/(4π a).

Step 1: Calculate Inside Distance
(μ₀ I r)/(2π a²) = (μ₀ I)/(4π a) r = (a)/(2)
Step 2: Calculate Outside Distance
(μ₀ I)/(2π r) = (μ₀ I)/(4π a) r = 2a
Pattern Recognition

Inside the wire, field scales linearly with radius; outside, it falls inversely with radius.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Moving Charges and Magnetism

Q jee_main_2024_01_february_morning Galvanometer Conversion
A galvanometer has a resistance of 50~Ω and it allows maximum current of 5~mA. It can be converted into voltmeter to measure upto 100~V by connecting in series a resistor of resistance:
  • A. 5975~Ω
  • B. 20050~Ω
  • C. 19950~Ω
  • D. 19500~Ω

Solution

Related Formula

Voltmeter series conversion formula:

V = Ig(Rg + R) R = (V)/(Ig) - Rg
Core Logic

Given data: Rg = 50~Ω, Ig = 5~mA = 5 × 10⁻³~A, target voltage range V = 100~V.

Substitute values:

R = 1005 × 10⁻³ - 50
Step 1: Complete Arithmetic Evaluation

R = 20000 - 50 = 19950~Ω

Pattern Recognition

Voltmeter resistance is always high because it is connected in parallel to circuits to prevent current drawing leaks.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Moving Charges and Magnetism Class 12 Physics: Current Electricity

Q jee_main_2024_01_february_morning Magnetic Field due to a Current Element
A regular polygon of 6 sides is formed by bending a wire of length 4pi meter. If an electric current of 4pisqrt3~A is flowing through the sides of the polygon, the magnetic field at the centre of the polygon would be x × 10⁻⁷~T. The value of x is:
Numerical Answer. Answer: 72 to 72

Solution

Related Formula

Magnetic field due to a straight wire segment of length 2L at distance r:

B₁ = (μ₀ I)/(4π r)( θ₁ + θ₂)

Total field for a regular hexagon (n=6):

B = 6 × B₁
Core Logic

Total perimeter = 6 · a = 4π side length a = (4π)/(6) = (2π)/(3)~m. For a regular hexagon segment, the interior angles relative to the normal vector are θ₁ = θ₂ = 30^°.

The normal distance r from the center to a side is:

r = (a)/(2) (30^°) = (4π)/(2 × 6) × √(3) = √(3)π3 = π√(3)~m
Step 1: Calculate Total Magnetic Field

Substitute r and I = 4π√(3)~A into the hexagon configuration:

B = 6 × [ (μ₀ I)/(4π r) ( (30^°) + (30^°)) ] B = 6 × [ 10⁻⁷ × 4π√(3)( √(3)π3) × (0.5 + 0.5) ] B = 6 × [ 10⁻⁷ × 4π√(3) × 3√(3)π × 1 ] B = 6 × [ 4 × 3 × 10⁻⁷ ] = 6 × 12 × 10⁻⁷ = 72 × 10⁻⁷~T

Thus, x = 72.

Pattern Recognition

For regular polygons, the normal distance r to the side is always r = (a)/(2) ((π)/(n)). The contribution from all n symmetric segments adds up constructively.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Moving Charges and Magnetism

Q39 jee_main_2024_29_january_evening Motion of Charged Particle in Magnetic Field
Two particles X and Y having equal charges are being accelerated through the same potential difference. Thereafter they enter normally in a region of uniform magnetic field and describes circular paths of radii R₁ and R₂ respectively. The mass ratio of X and Y is:
  • A. ((R₂)/(R₁))²
  • B. ((R₁)/(R₂))²
  • C. ((R₁)/(R₂))
  • D. ((R₂)/(R₁))

Solution

Related Formula

The radius R of the path of a charged particle moving perpendicular to a magnetic field B is:

R = (mv)/(qB) = (p)/(qB)

In terms of kinetic energy K:

R = √(2mK)qB

Since the particle is accelerated through potential V, kinetic energy K = qV:

R = √(2mqV)qB R = (1)/(B) √((2mV)/(q))
Core Logic

For both particles X and Y, the following parameters are the same:

  • Potential Difference, V
  • Magnetic Field, B
  • Charge, q
  • Therefore, we have the proportionality:

R ∝ √(m) R² ∝ m
Step 1: Calculate Mass Ratio

Using the proportionality relationship:

(m₁)/(m₂) = ( (R₁)/(R₂) )²

Thus, the mass ratio of X and Y is ((R₁)/(R₂))².

Pattern Recognition

Shortcut: Whenever charges and potential differences are equal, the radius of orbit in a magnetic field scales as R ∝ √(m). Squaring both sides yields m ∝ R² instantly.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Moving Charges and Magnetism

More Moving Charges and Magnetism Questions — jee_main_2025_07_april_morning

Practice all Moving Charges and Magnetism previous-year questions →

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