Given below are two statements regarding a charged particle moving in the magnetic field of a straight current-carrying wire: Statement I: If a charged particle is projected parallel to a long straight current-carrying wire, its kinetic energy remains constant but its momentum changes. Statement II: The magnetic force experienced by the particle is directed parallel to the current in the wire. In the light of the abo

Step-by-step solution

Statement I is correct: The magnetic force on a moving charge is always perpendicular to its velocity vector. Because the force is perpendicular to the displacement, the work done by the magnetic force is zero. Thus, the kinetic energy (and speed) of the particle remains constant. However, since the magnetic force causes the particle to deflect, the direction of its velocity changes, which means its momentum vector changes. Statement II is incorrect: The magnetic field lines around a long straight wire are concentr