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Q.Assertion (A) : An electron and a proton enter with the same momentum p⃗\vec{p} in a magnetic field B⃗\vec{B} such that p⃗⊥B⃗\vec{p} \perp \vec{B}. Then both describe a circular path of the same radius. Reason (R) : The radius of the circular path described by the charged particle (charge qq, mass mm) moving in the magnetic field B⃗\vec{B} is given by r=mvqBr = \dfrac{mv}{qB}. (A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A). (B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A). (C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false. (D) Assertion (A) is false and Reason (R) is also false.

CBSECBSE Class XII Board 2024MCQ· 1mImportance★★★★★
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The radius of circular motion in a perpendicular magnetic field depends on momentum, not mass or velocity separately. Since both particles have the same momentum, they trace the same radius — the assertion is true, and the reason correctly explains it.

Why this works — the core idea

When a charged particle moves perpendicular to a uniform magnetic field, the magnetic force F⃗=q(v⃗×B⃗)\vec{F} = q(\vec{v} \times \vec{B}) acts as a centripetal force. The particle is forced into a circular path whose radius depends on how much "oomph" (momentum) it has versus how strongly the field tries to bend it. The key insight: the radius formula r=mvqBr = \frac{mv}{qB} is really r=pqBr = \frac{p}{qB} — it's momentum that matters, not mass or speed alone.


  1. Start with the force balance. For a particle of charge qq, mass mm, and speed vv moving perpendicular to B⃗\vec{B}, the magnetic force provides the centripetal force:

qvB=mv2rqvB = \frac{mv^2}{r}

Cancel one vv (valid since v≠0v \neq 0):

qB=mvr⇒r=mvqBqB = \frac{mv}{r} \quad \Rightarrow \quad r = \frac{mv}{qB}

  1. Rewrite in terms of momentum. Linear momentum p=mvp = mv, so:

r=pqBr = \frac{p}{qB}

This is the cleaner, more revealing form. The radius depends only on the magnitude of momentum, the charge magnitude, and the field strength — not on mass or velocity individually.

  1. Apply to the given situation. Both the electron and the proton have the same momentum p⃗\vec{p} (same magnitude and direction), and both have the same magnitude of charge ∣q∣=e|q| = e (ignoring sign, which only affects direction of rotation, not radius). They enter the same magnetic field B⃗\vec{B} with p⃗⊥B⃗\vec{p} \perp \vec{B}. Therefore:

relectron=peB=rprotonr_{\text{electron}} = \frac{p}{eB} = r_{\text{proton}}

Both paths have identical radii.

  1. Check the reason statement. …

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