It is established that an electric current through a metallic conductor produces a magnetic field around it.
It is established that an electric current through a metallic conductor produces a magnetic field around it. Is there a similar magnetic field produced around a thin beam of moving (i) alpha particles, (ii) neutrons? Justify your answer.
3 Answers
Hint— (i) Yes, Alpha particles being positively charged constitutes a current in the direction of motion. (ii) No. The neutrons being electrically neutral constitute no current.
(i) alpha particles constitutes current in the direction of motion as they are positively charged constitutes .
(ii) Neutron has no charge on them hence they do not conduct electricity
In case of movement of a charged particle the magnetic field is created around the path on which the charged particle moves.
(i) Yes, a thin beam of a-particles (which are positively charged) is like straight conductor carrying current in the direction of motion.
(ii) No, as neutrons carry no charge so no magnetic field would be created around its path.