Various singly-ionized atomic nuclei of the same speed are directed into a magnetic field in a mass spectrometer where they are deflected and strike a detecting screen. The particles most strongly deflected are those of
A)least mass.
B)greatest mass.
C)same for all

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The strength of the magnetic force on a charged particle moving through a magnetic field is proportional to the particle's charge and velocity, as well as the strength of the magnetic field. Since all the particles in the question are singly-ionized, they all have the same charge. Therefore, the strength of the magnetic force acting on a particle is directly proportional to its speed. The faster a particle is moving, the more strongly it will be deflected by the magnetic field. According to the right-hand rule for a positive charge, a negatively charged particle will be deflected in the opposite direction, making the answer A) the most accurate.

Various Singly-Ionized Atomic Nuclei of the Same Speed Are Directed