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Question: Answered & Verified by Expert
A proton and an $\alpha$-particle are projected with the same kinetic energy at right angles to a uniform magnetic field. The ratio of the radii of their paths is
PhysicsMagnetic Effects of CurrentCOMEDKCOMEDK 2014
Options:
  • A $2: 1$
  • B $1: 2$
  • C $1: 1$
  • D $2: 3$
Solution:
1318 Upvotes Verified Answer
The correct answer is: $1: 1$
Radius of circular path of a charged particle in uniform magnetic field, when it enters perpendicular direction of magnetic field.
$$
r=\frac{m v}{B q} \quad \text{...(i)}
$$
where, $m=$ mass, $v=$ velocity and $q=$ charge.
We know that, kinetic energy,
$$
K=\frac{1}{2} m v^{2}
$$
$\Rightarrow \quad v=\sqrt{\frac{2 K}{m}} \quad \text{...(ii)}$
From Eqs. (i) and (ii), we get
$$
\begin{aligned}
&r=\frac{m}{B q} \cdot \sqrt{\frac{2 K}{m}} \\
&r=\frac{\sqrt{2 K m}}{B q}
\end{aligned}
$$
For the same value of kinetic energy,
$$
\begin{aligned}
r & \propto \frac{\sqrt{m}}{q} \\
\Rightarrow \quad \frac{r_{p}}{r_{\alpha}} &=\sqrt{\frac{m_{p}}{m_{\alpha}}} \cdot \frac{q_{\alpha}}{q_{p}}=\sqrt{\frac{m_{p}}{4 m_{p}}} \cdot\left(\frac{2 q_{p}}{q_{p}}\right)=\frac{1}{1} \text { or } 1: 1
\end{aligned}
$$

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