Cyclotron

A cyclotron is a device invented to easily accelerate charged particles. Inside the two semi-circles there is a fixed magnetic field, with direction orthogonal to your computer screen. Between the two green borders there is an electric field and no magnetic field. We can initially accelerate the charged particle applying an electric field, then when the particle enters the magnetic field zone it undergoes the magnetic force that bends its trajectory, but does not change the absolute value of its velocity. Then when the particle finds itself again between the green lines, we can accelerate it again applying an electric field opposite to the previous one. When it goes through the next magnetic zone, the radius of its trajectory will be bigger, due to a major speed.
This process goes on and on until the particle exits the device.

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You need Java 7 to see this applet

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