By referencing the magnetic field and the alternating potential difference explain how a cyclotron produces a beam of high speed particles.

The difference in potential between the two Ds of a cyclotron accelerate the particles across the gap. The direction of potential difference switches every half cycle to keep the particles accelerating. The magnetic field is a right angles to the path of the particles so keeps them in a circular motion within the Ds. As the particles gain energy and become faster the path radius increases until they are released as a beam when the energy is high enough.

GR

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

What is escape velocity?


A bullet is fired horizontally from a gun at a height of 1.5m at 280m/s. Calculate the time taken for it to hit the ground. A second bullet is fired from an adjacent gun at 370m/s. Calculate the distance it travel before the first bullet hits the ground.


A source of green laser light has a wavelength of 560nm, what is its frequency? Give your answer to an appropriate number of significant figures and using the correct units.


What is the difference between a scalar and a vector quantity?