Please help me find the direction for these two problems!
What is the direction of the magnetic force acting on an electron moving with a velocity of 3x10^4 m/s west?
What is the direction of the magnetic force acting on an electron moving at the speed of 4x10^5 m/s at an angle of 45 degrees north of east?

Question

Please help me find the direction for these two problems!
What is the direction of the magnetic force acting on an electron moving with a velocity of 3x10^4 m/s west?
What is the direction of the magnetic force acting on an electron moving at the speed of 4x10^5 m/s at an angle of 45 degrees north of east?

anonymous · Answer

Is this an electron moving through Earth's atmosphere or through an artificially generated magnetic field?

anonymous · Answer

Not sure... It just says that a "region of space" has a uniform magnetic field. @PsiSquared

anonymous · Answer

Well you have to use the Lorentz Force law:$$F=q(E+v \times B)$$where the '×' is the vector cross-product symbol.  If there's no electric field this reduces to:$$F=qv \times B$$

anonymous · Answer

Yes, but that doesn't give me the direction.. I found the magnitude with that formula and got 9.612 x 10^-16; they provided me with a magnetic field of 0.20T.

anonymous · Answer

Actually it does give you the direction because it the formula uses a cross product. What you're lacking is the direction of the magnetic field.  Did you get a drawing or anything?

anonymous · Answer

Nope.. Here is the complete problem:
A region of space has a uniform magnetic field of 0.20T directed straight upward What is the magnitude and direction of the magnetic force acting on an electron moving with a velocity of 3 x 10^4 m/s west? @PsiSquared

anonymous · Answer

Same question applicable to the next part of the question with the 45 degrees.