3D Lorentz Force Demonstration

Lorentz Force Demonstration

Interactive 3D simulation showing Lorentz forece. Motion of change particle in electromagnetic fields

E-field: OFF
B-field: OFF
Particles: 0

⚡ Particle Properties

🧲 Magnetic Field

⚡ Electric Field

🎮 Simulation

🔬 3D Lorentz Force Physics

F⃗ = q(E⃗ + v⃗ × B⃗)

The Lorentz force is the fundamental force that acts on a charged particle moving through electric and magnetic fields. It's named after Dutch physicist Hendrik Lorentz. In 3D space, charged particles follow helical trajectories when moving through magnetic fields. The electric field adds linear acceleration, while the magnetic field creates circular motion perpendicular to both the velocity and field direction.

Positive Charge
Negative Charge
Particle Trail
Coordinate Axes
Charged Particle Physics Simulation - Complete Guide

📖 Complete Usage Instructions

Lorentz Force Simulation Guide

🎮 Controls Section

💻 Desktop Controls

  • Mouse drag: Click and drag to rotate the 3D view
  • Wheel zoom: Scroll to zoom in/out of the simulation
  • Keyboard shortcuts: Use arrow keys for fine control

📱 Mobile Controls

  • Touch drag: Single finger to rotate view
  • Pinch zoom: Two fingers to zoom in/out
  • Tap interface: Touch buttons and sliders directly
Cross-platform compatibility: All controls work seamlessly across desktop, tablet, and mobile devices with responsive touch interfaces.

⚡ Particle Settings Guide

🔋 Charge Explanation

Important: Charge = 0 won't work! Neutral particles aren't affected by electromagnetic fields.
  • Range: -2 to +2 (negative = electron-like, positive = proton-like)
  • Effect: Determines spiral direction and field interaction strength

🚀 Speed Settings

  • Initial velocity effects: Higher speed = larger spiral radius
  • Recommended range: 0.5 to 3.0 for best visualization
  • Physics: Kinetic energy affects cyclotron radius

📐 Angle Controls

  • XY plane angles: 0° to 360° determines horizontal launch direction
  • Z elevation angles: -90° to +90° controls vertical component
  • Tip: 45° elevation often creates beautiful helical patterns
Quick Start Tip: Recommended beginner settings - Charge: ±1, Speed: 1.5, Angle XY: 0°, Angle Z: 45°

🧲 Field Settings Guide

🌀 Magnetic Field

  • Creates circular motion: Lorentz force perpendicular to velocity
  • Direction toggles: X, Y, Z axis buttons change field orientation
  • Strength: Higher values = tighter circles
  • Physics: F = q(v × B) - right-hand rule applies

⚡ Electric Field

  • Linear acceleration effects: Constant force in field direction
  • Direction options: Choose X, Y, or Z axis alignment
  • Strength: Controls acceleration magnitude
  • Physics: F = qE - simple linear force

🎛️ Interactive Buttons

Field direction buttons: +X -X +Y -Y +Z -Z

  • Click to instantly change field directions
  • Combine different field orientations for complex motion
  • Real-time updates - no need to restart simulation

🌟 Preset Instructions

🌪️ Helix Preset

  • Perfect spiral motion setup: Magnetic field + initial velocity angle
  • Auto-configuration: Sets optimal charge, speed, and field values
  • Ideal for: Understanding cyclotron motion and helical paths

🔄 Cycloid Preset

  • Complex looping patterns: Combined electric and magnetic fields
  • Creates: Cycloid, trochoid, and epicycloid trajectories
  • Advanced physics: Demonstrates E×B drift and complex motion

⚡ Quick Action Buttons

Top toolbar buttons: 🌪️ Helix 🔄 Cycloid 🧹 Clear ▶️ Launch

  • One-click setup: Instant configuration for common scenarios
  • Save time: No manual parameter adjustment needed
  • Learn faster: Start with working examples, then modify

🎯 Step-by-Step Helix Guide

  1. Click "🌪️ Helix" button - This auto-configures all settings for perfect helical motion
  2. Alternative manual settings:
    • Charge: +1 or -1
    • Speed: 1.5
    • Magnetic field: 0.8 in Z direction
    • Launch angle: XY=0°, Z=30°
  3. Launch particle: Click the ▶️ Launch button or press spacebar
  4. Rotate view: Drag mouse to see the beautiful 3D spiral from different angles
Success Criteria: You should see a smooth helical spiral that advances along the Z-axis while rotating in the XY plane. The particle traces a perfect corkscrew pattern!

🔬 6 Physics Experiments

Each experiment includes setup instructions, what to try, expected results, and physics concepts demonstrated:

1. 🔋 Charge Effects

Setup: Same speed and field, change charge from +1 to -1

Try: Launch particles with opposite charges

Result: Spirals rotate in opposite directions

Physics: Lorentz force direction depends on charge sign

2. 🚀 Speed Effects

Setup: Fixed charge and field, vary speed 0.5 to 3.0

Try: Launch at different speeds

Result: Faster particles make larger radius spirals

Physics: Cyclotron radius r = mv/(qB)

3. 🧲 Field Strength

Setup: Fixed particle, vary magnetic field 0.2 to 2.0

Try: Adjust field strength slider

Result: Stronger fields create tighter spirals

Physics: Magnetic force increases with field strength

4. ⚡ Combined Fields

Setup: Use Cycloid preset or add electric field

Try: Electric field perpendicular to magnetic

Result: Complex cycloid looping motion

Physics: E×B drift and trochoid trajectories

5. 📐 Launch Angles

Setup: Helix preset, vary Z angle 0° to 90°

Try: Different elevation angles

Result: Flat circles to steep helical cones

Physics: Parallel vs perpendicular velocity components

6. 🌍 Field Directions

Setup: Helix motion, change field from Z to X or Y

Try: Click different field direction buttons

Result: Helix axis changes to match field direction

Physics: Particles spiral around magnetic field lines

💡 Pro Tips

🚀 Start with Presets

  • Always begin with Helix or Cycloid presets
  • Understand working examples before customizing
  • Use presets as starting points for your own experiments

🔄 Use 3D Rotation Effectively

  • Drag from different corners for best viewing angles
  • View helical motion from the side to see spiral structure
  • Look down the axis to see circular cross-sections

🎯 Multiple Particle Tips

  • Launch several particles with slightly different parameters
  • Compare motion side-by-side
  • Use Clear button to start fresh experiments

⚡ Performance Optimization

  • Limit to 5-10 particles for smooth animation
  • Lower field strengths reduce computation
  • Clear old trails regularly
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