A beam of electrons passing through a magnetic field experiences maximum deflection if the direction of the beam is

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The best choice is perpendicular to the field lines because the force on a charged particle (like an electron) due to a magnetic field is perpendicular to both the magnetic field and the velocity of the particle. So, if the beam of electrons is perpendicular to the magnetic field lines, it will experience the maximum force and therefore the maximum deflection. If the beam of electrons is parallel to the field lines, it will not experience any force and therefore no deflection.

A Beam of Electrons Passing Through a Magnetic Field Experiences