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7
Lorentz force
Page by: Sunil Kumar Singh

Lorentz force is the electromagnetic force on a point or test charge. The corresponding force law for electromagnetic force is an empirical law
providing the combined expression for electrical and magnetic forces experienced by the test charge. Lorentz force for a point charge comes into
existence under certain conditions. The existence of either electrical or magnetic or both fields is primary requirement.

The force law sets up the framework under which two force types (electrical and magnetic) operate. The law is fundamental to the study of
electromagnetic interactions in terms of field concepts. For the consideration of force(s) on the test charge, the important deduction is that electrical
field interacts only with electrical field and magnetic field interacts only with magnetic field. In our context of electromagnetic force, we can say that
electrical force results from interaction of two electrical fields and magnetic force results from interaction of two magnetic fields.

Lorentz force expression

The law is stated in vector form as :

F = q[E + (vXB)]

We may recognize that Lorentz force is actually vector sum of two forces :

⇒ F = qE + q (vXB)

For convenience, we refer the first force as Lorentz electrical force and second force as Lorentz magnetic force. The Lorentz electrical force is given
by first part as :
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by first part as :
Electricity and magnetism
Book by: Sunil Kumar Singh
FE = qE

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The electrical part of law is actually the relation we have already studied in the context of Coulomb’s law and Electrical field. Electrical force on the
point charge "q" acts in the direction of electrical field (E) and as such the particle carrying the charge is accelerated in the direction of E. If "m" be
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the mass of the particle carrying charge, then acceleration of the particle is :
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FE qE
aE = =

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m m
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Lorentz magnetic force is given by second part as :

FM = q (vXB)

Magnetic force on the point charge "q" acts in the direction perpendicular to the plane formed by v and B vectors. The direction of vector cross
product is the direction of magnetic field, provided test charge is positive. The orientation of vector cross product is determined using Right hand
thumb rule. If the curl of right hand follows the direction from vector v to B, then extended thumb points in the direction of vector cross product.

Direction of vector cross product

Figure 1. The direction of vector cross product is given by Right hand thumb rule.

We should understand an important point that direction of magnetic field is determined not by the direction of vector cross product vXB alone, but by
the direction of expression "q(vXB)". What it means that if charge is negative, then direction of force is opposite to that determined by vector cross
d t " XB" Th fi b l h th
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it i t ti f t d t " XB" d th ti f 2/11
6/7/2021 Lorentz force - Electricity and magnetism - OpenStax CNX
product "vXB". The figure below shows the opposite orientations of vector cross product "vXB" and the magnetic force.
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Book by: Sunil Kumar Singh

Lorentz magnetic force

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Figure 2. Directions of vector cross product and magnetic force are opposite when charge is negative

The acceleration of the particle is given by :

FM q (vXB)
aM = =
m m

The magnitude of magnetic force is given by :

FM = qvB sin θ

where θ is the smaller angle between v and B vectors. The magnitude of magnetic field is maximum when θ = 90 or 270 and the maximum value of
magnetic field is qvB. It is also clear from the expression of magnitude that magnetic force is zero even when magnetic field exists for following
cases :

1: charge is stationary i.e. v=0

2: when charge is moving in the direction of magnetic field or in opposite direction i.e. θ=0 or 180 and sin θ =0.

Further, if only electrical field exists, then only electrical force applies on the point charge and the point charge is accelerated in the direction of
electrical field (E). If only magnetic field exists, then only magnetic force applies on the point charge except for the cases mentioned above (when
magnetic force is zero) and the point charge is accelerated in the direction of vector expression q(vXB). If both electrical and magnetic field exist,
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then charge is subjected to both kinds of force provided conditions for zero magnetic force are not met. In the last case, acceleration of the point
Electricity and magnetism
Book by: Sunil Kumar Singh
charge is in the direction of resultant force :

F
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q[E + (vXB)]
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a = =
m m
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Problem : An electron, moving along x-axis in an uniform magnetic field B, experiences maximum magnetic force along z-axis. Find the
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direction
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Solution : Since the particle experiences maximum magnetic force, the angle between velocity and magnetic field vector is right angle. Now,
magnetic force in z-direction is also perpendicular to the magnetic field. Hence, magnetic field is either in positive or negative y-direction. By
applying Right hand rule of vector cross product, we find that it is oriented in positive y-direction if the charge is positive. But, charge on electron
is negative.

Lorentz magnetic force

Figure 3. Orientations of direction of vector cross product and magnetic force

Hence, magnetic field is oriented along negative y-direction.

Nature of magnetic force

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The nature of magnetic force is different to electrical force. First, it is not linear in the sense that it does not operate in the direction of magnetic field.
Electricity and
This is unlike magnetism
electric

force which acts in the direction of applied electric field. The magnetic force, as we have seen in
Book by: Sunil Kumar Singh
the preceding section, acts in
the side-way direction following vector cross product rule. Also, magnetic force is relatively weaker as magnetic field is a weaker field in comparison
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with electric field.

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The first of the two distinguishing characteristics as described above has important implications. Since magnetic force is perpendicular to the
direction of velocity, it can only change the direction of motion – not its magnitude. The magnetic force can not change the magnitude of velocity i.e.
speed of the charged particle. In turn, we can say that magnetic force can not bring field-at-an-axial-point-due-to-
about a change in the kinetic energy of the charged particle as
speed remains same due to magnetic field.
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An immediate fall out of the magnetic force is very interesting. This force does no work. We know work is scalar dot product of force and
displacement. Now, velocity is time rate of displacement. It means velocity and displacement have same direction. Since magnetic force is
perpendicular to velocity, it is also perpendicular to small elemental displacement. What it means that magnetic force is always perpendicular to
displacement. Thus, work done by magnetic force is zero.

Yet another important consequence of the nature of magnetic force is that a charged particle in magnetic field keeps changing direction of motion of
the particle all the time. Since direction of velocity is changed every instant, direction of magnetic force being perpendicular to it is also changed all
the time. Note that direction of magnetic force is automatically adjusted or changed with the motion. If the particle does not escape out of the
magnetic field, the implication is that the particle may approximate a circular path. At any moment – whether particle completes a circular path or not
– the magnetic force acts in radial direction to the motion. On a comparison note, we can see that the electric force is independent of the direction of
motion. It is along electric field. It does not change with motion.

Lorentz magnetic force

Figure 4. Magnetic force changes direction as direction of motion changes.

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Electricity and magnetism

Book by: Sunil Kumar Singh
We make use of this feature in many important applications like cyclotron to accelerate particle or entrapping plasma etc. But we should be aware of
its role in these applications. The effect of Magnetic force is limited toBack (/contents/UBPo-
change in direction only. Change in speed is effected by electric field. Next

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Magnitude of magnetic force
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The magnetic field is a weak field and so is the magnetic force. Let us consider an electron moving with a velocity 3X10
m/s in a magnetic field of
7

T. If velocity and magnetic field are perpendicular to each other, then magnetic force on the electron is :
−3
5X10
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−19 7 −3 −14
FM = qvB = 1.6X10 X3X10 X5X10 = 2.4X10 N

Clearly, magnetic force is really very weak. However, even this weak force is great enough for subatomic particle like electron. For example, the
acceleration of electron due to this magnetic force is :

−14
FM 2.4X10 16 2
a = = = 2.6X10 m/s
−31
m 9.1X10

Indeed this is an extraordinary acceleration.

Context of Lorentz force law

Lorentz magnetic force law completes the picture on “effect side” in the study of electromagnetism. The “cause side” i.e. generation of magnetic field
is described by Biot-Savart law. Thus, Lorentz force law describes the effect of electric and magnetic fields on a test charge – but not the cause of
these fields. This is a serious limitation because test charge on its own is also the cause of electric and magnetic fields. These fields, in turn, would
modify the fields operating on the test charge.

Also, the electromagnetic force causes acceleration of test charge. An accelerated charge, in turn, radiates. As such, application of Lorentz force law
by itself would not be sufficient to describe motion of test charge. A charged electron which is expected to describe a circular motion under magnetic
field without consideration of radiation would actually spiral down with radiation as shown in the figure and expected motion might simply be not
there.

Motion of charge under magnetic field

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Electricity and magnetism

Book by: Sunil Kumar Singh

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Figure 5. Motion of charge under magnetic field
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field-at-an-axial-point-due-to-
Recall that this was the reason for which Rutherford’s atomic model was eventually rejected and Bohr’s model was accepted. We shall, however,
ignore radiation while studying motion of charged particles under electromagnetic fields – unless state specifically to consider radiation.
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Problem : A particle carrying a charge 1μC is moving with velocity 3i – 3k in a uniform field -5 k. If units are SI units, then determine the angle
between velocity and magnetic field vectors. Also determine the magnetic force.

Solution : The cosine of the enclosed angle is :

v. B (3i − 3k). (−5k)

cos θ = =
|v||B| |(3i − 3k)|| − 5k|

15 1
⇒ cos θ = =
– –
15√2 √2

⇒ θ = 45°

Magnetic force

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Electricity and magnetism

Book by: Sunil Kumar Singh
Figure 6. Magnetic force is perpendicular to plane formed by velocity and magnetic field vectors.

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The velocity and magnetic field vectors lie in x-z plane. The magnetic force is :
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−6
FM = q (vXB) = 1X10 [(3i − 3k)X − 5k]
field-at-an-axial-point-due-to-
−6 −6
⇒ FM = 1X10 X15j = 15X10 j
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Magnetic force is along positive y – direction, which is perpendicular to the x-z plane of velocity and magnetic field vectors.

Context of electromagnetic interactions

In the discussion so far, we have assumed existence of electrical and magnetic fields. Here, we shall consider about the manner in which electrical
and magnetic fields are set up by a source like charge or current and then investigate forces being experienced by the test charge. We shall
consider three important cases in which (i) a stationary charge sets up an electrical field (ii) a moving charge sets up both electrical and magnetic
fields and (iii) a current carrying wire sets up magnetic field. For each case, we shall discuss two states of test charge (i) it is stationary and (ii) it is
moving. Also, note that we shall be deliberately concentrating on the forces experienced by the test charge. It is, however, implied that source
charge or conductor carrying current also experiences the same amount of force in accordance with Newton’s third law of motion.

Force due to stationary charge

A stationary point source charge changes electrical properties of space around it. This property is quantified by the electrical field E at a particular
point. If another point test charge is brought at that point, then it experiences electrical force, which is given by electrical part of the Lorentz force.

What happens when the test charge is moving also? It still experiences only the electrical force. No magnetic force is in play. See here that
stationary source charge produces only electrical field around it. On the other hand, moving charge brought in its field sets up both electric and
magnetic fields. The electric field is set up because moving test charge represents a net charge. But since it is also moving, magnetic field is set up
by it in its surrounding in accordance with Biot-Savart Law.

We can easily see that two electrical fields (one due to stationary source charge and other due to moving test charge) interact to result in electrical
force. However, there is only one magnetic field due to moving test charge without other magnetic field to interact with. As such, moving charge
experiences only Lorentz electrical force in the presence of a stationary source charge.

Force due to moving charge

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Electricity and magnetism

We now consider a moving charge, which acts as the source for setting up the fields. A moving charge produces both Book

electrical by:magnetic
and Sunil Kumar Singh
fields.
If we bring another charge in its surrounding, then it experiences only electrical force. No magnetic force is in play. A stationary test charge only
produces electrical field. There is no magnetic field to interact with theBack (/contents/UBPo-
magnetic field produced by the moving source charge. Next
However, if we introduce moving test charge in the surrounding of source moving charge, then the moving test charge experiences both electrical
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and magnetic fields except for the situation when motion of the charge is neither parallel or anti-parallel to the magnetic field. However, if the motion
of test charge is either parallel or anti-parallel to magnetic field produced by moving source charge, then the test charge only experiences electrical
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Force due to current in wire

The current in wire sets up magnetic field in accordance with Biot-Savart law. Importantly, it does not set up electric field around it. Current through
conductor is equivalent to passage of charge. Though, there is net transfer of electrons across a cross section of wire, but there is no accumulation
of charge anywhere. As such, the wire carrying current is charge neutral even though there is flow of charge through it.

Now when a test charge is brought at a point in the surrounding of wire, the test charge does not experience any force. The wire sets up a magnetic
field whereas charge sets up electrical field. These two different field types do not interact and there is no force on the test charge. On the other
hand, if test charge is moving with certain velocity then it sets up electrical as well as magnetic fields. Two magnetic fields interact and as a result,
the test charge experiences magnetic force except for the situation when motion of the charge is either parallel or anti-parallel to the magnetic field
of the current in wire.

Magnetic field (B)

Strangely we have discussed and used the concept of magnetic field quite frequently, but without even defining it. There are certain difficulties
involved here. There is no magnetic monopole like electrical monopole i.e. point charge. The smallest unit considered to be the source of magnetic
field is a small current element. The Biot-Savart law gives relation for magnetic field due to a small current element. But, it is not quantifiable. How
much is the “small” magnetic field or the “small” current length element?

As a matter of fact, the expression of Lorentz magnetic force provides us a measurable set up which can be used to define magnetic field. We have
noted that magnitude of magnetic force is maximum when angle between velocity and magnetic field vectors is right angle.

Fmax = qvB

Fmax
B =
qv

Thus we can define magnetic field (B) as a vector whose magnitude is equal to the maximum force experienced by a charge q divided the product
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“qv”. The direction of magnetic field is given by vector expression q(vXB). The SI unit of magnetic field is Tesla, which is written in abbreviated form
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Book by: Sunil Kumar Singh
as T. One Tesla (T), therefore, is defined as the magnetic field under which 1 coulomb test charge moving in perpendicular direction to it at a velocity
1 m/s experiences a force of 1 Newton. Back (/contents/UBPo- Next

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Exercise field-at-an-axial-point-due-to-

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A proton is projected in positive x-direction with a speed of 3 m/s in a magnetic field of (2i+3j) X 10
. Determine the force
−6
T

experienced by the particle.

[Hide Solution]

Here,

v = 3i m/s

−6
B = (2i + 3j)X10 T

−19
q = 1.6X10 C

The magnetic force is given by :

FM = q (vXB)

−19 −6
⇒ FM = 1.6X10 [3iX (2i + 3j)10 ]

−19 −6
⇒ FM = 1.6X10 X9X10 k

−24
⇒ FM = 1.44X10 k Newton

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