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A charge particle moving in a magnetic field B, has the components of velocity along B as well as perpendicular to B. The path of the charge particle will be

Asked in JEE Main 8th April 1st Shift 2023 · Helical paths and field regions

• (1) helical path with the axis perpendicular to the direction of magnetic field B
• (2) helical path with the axis along magnetic field B
• (3) circular path
• (4) straight along the direction of magnetic field B.

Step-by-step solution

Why the other options are wrong

• (1) Places the helix axis along the force direction instead of along the field.
• (3) Ignores the velocity component along the field, which carries the particle forward.
• (4) Ignores the perpendicular component, which produces the circular part of the motion.

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