If the velocity of charged particle has both perpendicular and parallel components while moving through a magnetic field ,then what is the path following by a charged particle?

Options

A. circular
B. elliptical
C. linear
D. helical

Answer

D

Explanation

Suppose th velocity v of the particle entering the field B instead of being parpendicular to B makes an angle `theta` with it

Then v may be resolved into two component s
`V_(||)=V cos theta` parallel to B and `v=v sin theta` perpendicular to B the component `V_(||)` gives a linear path and the
component `v_(||)` gives a circular path to the particle the resultant of these two is a helical paqth whose axis is parallel to the magnetic field