Question:medium

A particle of charge \(-q\) and mass \(m\) moves in a circle of radius \(r\) around an infinitely long line charge of linear density \(+\lambda\). Then the time period will be given as:

Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
  • \( T = 2\pi r \sqrt{\frac{m}{2kq}} \)

  • \( T^2 = \frac{4\pi m r^3}{2kq} \)

  • \( T = \frac{1}{2\pi r} \sqrt{\frac{m}{2kq}} \)

  • \( T = \frac{2kq}{m} \)

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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

The electric field \( E \) generated by an infinite line charge with linear charge density \( +\lambda \) at a distance \( r \) is:

\[ E = \frac{\lambda}{2 \pi \epsilon_0 r}, \]

where \( \epsilon_0 \) represents the permittivity of free space.

Force on Particle: The force \( F \) exerted on the particle by the electric field is:

\[ F = -qE = -q \left( \frac{\lambda}{2 \pi \epsilon_0 r} \right). \]

This force acts as the centripetal force for the particle's circular motion:

\[ F = \frac{mv^2}{r}. \]

Force Equivalence: Equating the electric and centripetal forces:

\[ -q \left( \frac{\lambda}{2 \pi \epsilon_0 r} \right) = \frac{mv^2}{r}. \]

Rearranged Equation:

\[ mv^2 = \frac{q \lambda}{2 \pi \epsilon_0}. \]

Time Period Calculation: The velocity \( v \) can be expressed using the radius and time period \( T \):

\[ v = \frac{2 \pi r}{T}. \]

Substituting this into the equation:

\[ m \left( \frac{2 \pi r}{T} \right)^2 = \frac{q \lambda}{2 \pi \epsilon_0}. \]

Simplified Equation:

\[ m \times \frac{4 \pi^2 r^2}{T^2} = \frac{q \lambda}{2 \pi \epsilon_0}. \]

Solving for \( T^2 \):

\[ T^2 = \frac{4 \pi m r^2 \epsilon_0}{q \lambda}. \]

Final Form: Using \( k = \frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0} \):

\[ T^2 = \frac{4 \pi m r^2}{2 k q}. \]

The resulting time period is:

\[ T = 2 \pi r \sqrt{\frac{m}{2 k q}}. \]

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