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Velocity selector

Super199

Can someone explain to me why slower ions are deflected downwards and heavier ions deflected upwards?
Cheers

Reply 1

Kyx

Original post by Super199

Can someone explain to me why slower ions are deflected downwards and heavier ions deflected upwards?
Cheers

Slower ions are deflected more since they have less kinetic energy.

Reply 2

username1560589

Which way each is deflected depends on the charge on the ions and the orientation of the fields. The faster ions experience more magnetic force, but the same electric force(assuming all of the ions have the same charge), so will be deflected in the direction of the magnetic force. The slower ions will experience less magnetic force, but the same electric force, so will be deflected in the direction of electric force.