All MCAT Physical Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Induction
You look at a circular loop of wire such that the plane of the loop is perpendicular to your line of vision. The loop has a constant current that is running through it clockwise. What will happen if a magnetic field were to be activated that is pointing in your direction?
The current in the loop will continue clockwise but will increase
The current in the loop will begin to move counterclockwise but slowly decrease
The current in the loop will begin to move counterclockwise and slowly increase
The current in the loop will continue clockwise but will decrease
The current in the loop will begin to move counterclockwise at the same magnitude of current as before
The current in the loop will continue clockwise but will increase
This question works with the concept of induction. Simply put, the current in a wire will adjust such as to oppose a change in magnetic field. The loop originally has a magnetic field pointing away from the observer. Therefore, with the external magnetic field suddenly activated in the opposite direction (towards the observer), the current in the loop will act to counteract this change and increase while remaining clockwise.
Example Question #1 : Right Hand Rules
An electron moves at 85km/s to the right along the plane of the page, while a uniform magnetic field points into the page. In what direction does the force act on the moving electron?
Out of the page
Upward along the plane of the page
To the right
Downward along the plane of the page
Into the page at an angle
Upward along the plane of the page
This question requires knowlegde of the right-hand rule. Point the fingers of your right hand in the direction of the electron's velocity (to the right). Point your thumb in the direction of the magnetic field (into the page). Your palm should be facing in the direction of the force on a positive particle. However, electrons are negative, so this direction must be reversed, meaning that the direction of the force is upward along the plane of the page.
Example Question #2 : Right Hand Rules
You look at a circular loop of wire such that the plane of the loop is perpendicular to your line of vision. In what direction must a current be going through the loop in order for a magnetic field to be produced in your direction.
Clockwise and slowly increasing
Counterclockwise
Clockwise but slowly decreasing
The direction of the current does not matter
Clockwise
Counterclockwise
This is an application of the right hand rule for magnetic fields produced by current carrying loops. To use the right hand rule, put your right thumb in the direction of the current, and the direction of the magnetic field is the same as the way your other four fingers wrap as you close your fist. The answers which include increasing or decreasing of a current hint at the concept of induction and are incorrect.
Example Question #1 : Magnetism And Electromagnetism
Which of the following influences the emf produced in a wire loop that is rotating in a magnetic field?
More than one of the other options is correct
The material of which the loop is made
The size of the loop
The resistance of the loop
The shape of the loop
The size of the loop
Recall that , where . The shape, material characteristics, and resistance do not appear in this equation. So only the size (area) of the loop influences the emf.
Example Question #1 : Electricity And Magnetism
Which of the following best describes magnetic field lines?
They show both the relative strength and direction of the magnetic field
They show the direction in which a positive charge will experience a force
More than one of the other options is correct
They always begin at a north pole and terminate at a south pole
They can only cross when multiple magnets are present
They show both the relative strength and direction of the magnetic field
First, magnetic field lines, like electric field lines, can never cross. Also, unlike electric field lines, magnetic field lines are continuous—they do not have starting or ending points. Next, the force experienced by a charge in a magnetic field depends on the charge's velocity direction, not just the magnetic field. So the only remaining choice is that magnetic field lines show both the relative strength and direction of the field.
Example Question #1 : Magnetic Fields
A current-carrying wire is placed in a uniform magnetic field oriented perpendicularly to the wire. The length of the wire is and the magnitude of the magnetic field is . What is the force on the wire?
We use the formula for force on a wire in a magnetic field:
Where = force, = current, = length of wire, and = magnetic mield
Example Question #535 : Mcat Physical Sciences
A scientist builds a particle accelerator. Which of the following would not help the scientist increase the speed of a particle in the accelerator?
Increasing the charge of the particles
Increasing the strength of the magnetic field
Increasing the mass of the particles in the accelerator
Decreasing the temperature of the particle accelerator
Increasing the radius that the particles spin around
Increasing the mass of the particles in the accelerator
A charged particle in a particle accelerator moves in uniform circular motion. The equation for centripetal force caused by uniform circular motion is:
The equation for magnetic force is:
Set the equations equal to each other, and solve for velocity.
The only answer choice that does not correspond to an increase in velocity is increasing the mass of the particles in the accelerator.
Example Question #1 : Electricity And Magnetism
An electron is traveling at constant velocity directed to the the left through a magnetic field directed into the page as shown below.
Which way would the force vector on the electron due to the magnetic field be directed?
Towards the bottom of the page
Towards the top of the page
Towards the right of the page
Out of the page
Towards the top of the page
When finding the direction of the force on a POSITIVELY charged particle due to a magnetic field, we can use the right hand rule. Holding your thumb perpendicular to the rest of your fingers (as if motioning to stop), orient your fingers parallel to the lines of the magnetic field, and your thumb with the velocity vector of the charge. For a positive charge, the force would be oriented directly out of the palm; HOWEVER, the charge of an electron is negative and therefore the force will be applied in the opposite direction. This would mean that the force would be coming directly out of the backside of your hand (in this case, towards the top of the page) using the right hand rule.
Example Question #1 : Magnetism And Electromagnetism
A charged particle enters a uniform magnetic field, with velocity v perpendicular to the field, and moves in a circular path of radius R. If the particle's mass were doubled, the radius would become __________.
R/2
R/4
R
4R
2R
2R
A charged particle's motion in a uniform magnetic field is described by R = mv/qB, so the radius of the particle's path is proportional to its mass. Thus if mass is doubled, radius is also doubled.
Example Question #1 : Magnetic Forces And Energy
An electron is moving at a constant velocity due east. It travels from a region of zero magnetic field into a uniform magnetic field of nonzero magnitude and unknown direction. Which of the following could not describe the electron's motion after entering the field?
It travels in a helical path
Its path begins curving to the south
Its path begins curving to the north
It continues traveling east, but at a greater velocity
It continues traveling east at the same velocity
It continues traveling east, but at a greater velocity
A magnetic force can accelerate a charged particle by changing the direction of its velocity, but cannot change the magnitude of velocity.
If the magnetic field has any components perpendicular to the particle's initial velocity, the particle will experience a force according to the equation:
This force is generated perpendicular to the particle's path and will cause a change in the direction of the particle's velocity. If the magnetic field is parallel to the initial velocity, the particle will experience no magnetic force, and its path will remain unchanged. It is not possible for the particle to accelerate in the magnetic field without changing direction.
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