Lorentz Force Calculator
Use the Lorentz force calculator to compute the effect of the magnetic field on charged particles.

What Lorentz Force Calculator does
The Lorentz Force Calculator on Omni Calculator determines the magnetic force acting on a charged particle moving through a magnetic field. Users input the particle's charge, velocity, and the magnetic field strength, along with the angle between the velocity and field vectors, to compute the resulting force magnitude. The tool outputs the calculated force and explains how the direction of the force is perpendicular to both the particle's motion and the magnetic field, causing the particle's trajectory to bend. It serves as a practical resource for visualizing electromagnetic interactions without manual computation.
How to use the Omni Calculator Lorentz Force Calculator
- 1
Select the particle's charge value and sign
- 2
Enter the particle's velocity magnitude and direction
- 3
Input the magnetic field strength and the angle between velocity and field
- 4
View the calculated force magnitude and direction relative to the particle path
Best for
Physics students and engineers needing to quickly calculate particle deflection in magnetic fields for coursework or project design.
Limitations
- Results assume uniform magnetic field conditions
- Does not account for relativistic effects at near-light speeds
- Angle input required for accurate force vector calculation
Lorentz Force Calculator FAQ
- Can this calculator handle both electric and magnetic field effects?
- The tool focuses on the magnetic component of the Lorentz force; electric field effects are addressed separately through Omni Calculator's Coulomb's law calculator for comprehensive electromagnetism problems.
- What units should I use for velocity and magnetic field?
- The calculator accepts standard velocity units (m/s, km/h) and magnetic field units (Tesla, Gauss), automatically converting inputs to maintain consistency in the force calculation.
- Why does the force become zero at certain angles?
- When a charged particle moves parallel or antiparallel to the magnetic field lines (angle of 0° or 180°), the sine of the angle becomes zero, resulting in no magnetic force acting on the particle.
- Is the calculated force the total force on the particle?
- This calculator provides the magnetic component of the Lorentz force; if electric fields are present, the total force would be the vector sum of both electric and magnetic contributions.
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