This image shows how electrons will circle around a magnetic field line one way and a proton will circle in the opposite direction.
Movie adapted from original clips provided courtesy of Professor Patricia Reiff, Rice University, Connections Program.
Movie adapted from original clips provided courtesy of Professor Patricia Reiff, Rice University, Connections Program.
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Basic Facts About Spiral Motion
Charged particles cannot easily move across magnetic field lines but are forced to spiral around them. Electrons encirle the field line in one direction, ions in the other direction.
