Problem: In a mass spectrometer, a specific velocity can be selected from a distribution by injecting charged particles between a set of plates with a constant electric field between them and a magnetic field across them (perpendicular to the direction of particle travel). If the fields are tuned exactly right, only particles of a specific velocity will pass through this region undeflected. Consider such a velocity selector in a mass spectrometer with a 0.125 T magnetic field Part (a) What electric field strength, in volts per meter, is needed to select a speed of 4.1 x 106 m/s? Part (b) What is the voltage, in kilovolts, between the plates if they are separated by 0.75 cm?

FREE Expert Solution

Part (a)

Velocity:

$\overline{){\mathbf{v}}{\mathbf{=}}\frac{\mathbf{E}}{\mathbf{B}}}$

Problem Details

In a mass spectrometer, a specific velocity can be selected from a distribution by injecting charged particles between a set of plates with a constant electric field between them and a magnetic field across them (perpendicular to the direction of particle travel). If the fields are tuned exactly right, only particles of a specific velocity will pass through this region undeflected. Consider such a velocity selector in a mass spectrometer with a 0.125 T magnetic field

Part (a) What electric field strength, in volts per meter, is needed to select a speed of 4.1 x 106 m/s?

Part (b) What is the voltage, in kilovolts, between the plates if they are separated by 0.75 cm?

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