Unit 4: Fields
Topic 4.3: Motion in Electromagnetic Fields Questions
Practice 20 exam-style questions for IB Physics SL Topic 4.3. Review the question stems below, then unlock the full Question Bank to access markschemes, model answers, and AI grading.
1Draw1 mark
2026
Draw an arrow showing the direction of the force on the wire.
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Unlock Question2Identify1 mark
2026
A charged particle moves under the action of a uniform electric field only.
Which of these paths is NOT possible?
Which of these paths is NOT possible?
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Unlock Question3Explain1 mark
2026
Neon ions, all with the same charge and speed, enter a magnetic field and hit a detector at two different places.
Explain what this shows.
Explain what this shows.
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Unlock Question4Draw1 mark
2026
Draw an arrow showing the direction of the magnetic force on the charge.
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2025
A loose wire hangs vertically between the poles of a horseshoe magnet. A current is switched on in it.
Suggest what happens to the wire.
Suggest what happens to the wire.
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A small charged sphere is held at rest in a uniform electric field.
State the formula for the electric force on the sphere, and state how the direction of this force compares with the field direction if the charge is negative.
State the formula for the electric force on the sphere, and state how the direction of this force compares with the field direction if the charge is negative.
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2025
Suggest why a magnetic field on its own cannot be used to speed up a proton.
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2026
Outline why the magnetic force on a moving charged particle does no work on it.
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2026
A beam of singly charged ions, all at the same speed, makes only one curved track in a magnetic field.
Explain what this suggests about the ions.
Explain what this suggests about the ions.
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2026
In a cloud chamber photo, an electron's track is a circle traced anticlockwise in the plane of the photograph.
State which way the magnetic field through the photograph points.
State which way the magnetic field through the photograph points.
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Unlock Question11Calculate2 marks
A straight wire of length 0.30 m lies at right angles to a uniform magnetic field of flux density 0.45 T and carries a current of 8.0 A.
Calculate the magnitude of the force on the wire.
Calculate the magnitude of the force on the wire.
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Unlock Question12Identify1 mark
2025
A vertical rod carries a current up the page in a uniform field directed into the page.
Identify the direction of the magnetic force on the rod.
Identify the direction of the magnetic force on the rod.
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2025
A proton moves between horizontal plates; the upper plate is positive.
State the direction of its acceleration.
State the direction of its acceleration.
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2026
An electron enters a uniform electric field moving in exactly the opposite direction to the field lines.
What is its path, and what happens to its speed?
What is its path, and what happens to its speed?
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2026
A proton enters a uniform electric field moving at 45° to the field lines.
What shape is its path in the field?
What shape is its path in the field?
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2025
An electron moves in a circle in a uniform magnetic field.
Suggest why its kinetic energy does not change, even though a force acts on it.
Suggest why its kinetic energy does not change, even though a force acts on it.
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2026
Outline why a proton moving in a circle in a uniform magnetic field keeps the same speed.
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2025
A metal rod is pulled to the left through a uniform magnetic field directed into the page.
State the direction of the magnetic force on an electron in the rod.
State the direction of the magnetic force on an electron in the rod.
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2025
A 0.30 m length of wire lies at right angles to a 0.50 T field, and the force on it is 0.045 N.
Show that the current is about 0.3 A.
Show that the current is about 0.3 A.
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2026
An electron enters the field between horizontal plates moving parallel to them; the lower plate is positive.
Describe its path between the plates.
Describe its path between the plates.
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