The force acting on the alpha particle is the Lorentz force,
F = q v x B.
This is a cross product; what is the angle between v and B?
F is also the central force that is responsible for the particle going in circles, F = m omega2 R. This consideration yields the angular frequency omega. Now remember how the angular frequency is related to the frequency.
Last modified: 6 February 2001
by David Tomanek