perpendicular

(adjective)

at or forming a right angle (to).

Related Terms

Examples of perpendicular in the following topics:

  • Helical Motion

    • Helical motion results when the velocity vector is not perpendicular to the magnetic field vector.
    • What if the velocity is not perpendicular to the magnetic field?
    • Then we consider only the component of v that is perpendicular to the field when making our calculations, so that the equations of motion become:
    • shows how electrons not moving perpendicular to magnetic field lines follow the field lines.
    • The magnetic force is perpendicular to the velocity, and so velocity changes in direction but not magnitude.

  • Circular Motion

    • Magnetic force is always perpendicular to velocity, so that it does no work on the charged particle.
    • The simplest case occurs when a charged particle moves perpendicular to a uniform B-field, such as shown in .
    • If the velocity is not perpendicular to the magnetic field, then v is the component of the velocity perpendicular to the field.
    • The magnetic force is perpendicular to the velocity, and so velocity changes in direction but not magnitude.
    • There is a strong magnetic field perpendicular to the page that causes the curved paths of the particles.

  • Relation to the flux

    • From the example at the beginning of this section we can deduce the relationship between the flux and the intensity of the light.Radiation that travels perpendicular to a surface delivers more energy to that surface than radiation traveling at an angle.
    • You can always imagine second surface perpendicular to the light ray through which all of the energy that reaches the first surface travels.
    • Pressure is the rate that momentum is delivered to a surface in the direction perpendicular to the surface.
    • The component of the momentum that is directed perpendicular to the surface is $E \cos\theta/c$, so there is a second factor of $\cos \theta$yielding the following integral.

  • Direction of the Magnetic Force: The Right Hand Rule

    • The direction of the magnetic force F is perpendicular to the plane formed by v and B, as determined by the right hand rule, which is illustrated in the figure above.
    • The right hand rule states that: to determine the direction of the magnetic force on a positive moving charge, ƒ, point the thumb of the right hand in the direction of v, the fingers in the direction of B, and a perpendicular to the palm points in the direction of F.
    • Because the force is always perpendicular to the velocity vector, a pure magnetic field will not accelerate a charged particle in a single direction, however will produce circular or helical motion (a concept explored in more detail in future sections).
    • The direction of the magnetic force on a moving charge is perpendicular to the plane formed by v and B and follows right hand rule–1 (RHR-1) as shown.

  • Polarization By Scattering and Reflecting

    • Since light waves are electromagnetic (EM) waves (and EM waves are transverse waves) they will vibrate the electrons of air molecules perpendicular to the direction in which they are traveling.
    • The electrons then produce radiation (acting like small antennae) that is polarized perpendicular to the direction of the ray.
    • The light perpendicular to the original ray is completely polarized.
    • Unpolarized light scattering from air molecules shakes their electrons perpendicular to the direction of the original ray.
    • The scattered light therefore has a polarization perpendicular to the original direction and none parallel to the original direction.

  • Pressure

    • Pressure is scalar quantity which is defined as force per unit area where the force acts in a direction perpendicular to the surface.
    • As a scalar physical quantity (having magnitude but no direction), pressure is defined as the force per unit area applied perpendicular to the surface to which it is applied.
    • where p is pressure, F is the force acting perpendicular to the surface to which this force is applied, and A is the area of the surface.
    • The magnitude of the pressure exerted by an object on a given surface is equal to its weight acting in the direction perpendicular to that surface, divided by the total surface area of contact between the object and the surface. shows the graphical representations and corresponding mathematical expressions for the case in which a force acts perpendicular to the surface of contact, as well as the case in which a force acts at angle θ relative to the surface.
    • Since pressure depends only on the force acting perpendicular to the surface upon which it is applied, only the force component perpendicular to the surface contributes to the pressure exerted by that force on that surface.

  • Angular Acceleration, Alpha

    • Thus, at and ac are perpendicular and independent of one another.
    • Centripetal acceleration occurs as the direction of velocity changes; it is perpendicular to the circular motion.
    • Centripetal and tangential acceleration are thus perpendicular to each other.

  • Gyroscopes

    • The axis of the wheel has thus moved perpendicular to the forces exerted on it, instead of in the expected direction.
    • The torque produced is perpendicular to the angular momentum, thus the direction of the angular momentum is changed, but not its magnitude.
    • The gyroscope precesses around a vertical axis, since the torque is always horizontal and perpendicular to L.
    • The wheel moves toward the person, perpendicular to the forces she exerts on it.
    • In figure (a), the torque is perpendicular to the plane formed by r and F and is the direction your right thumb would point to if you curled your fingers in the direction of F.

  • Electric Generators

    • However, those in the top and bottom segments feel a force perpendicular to the wire; this force does not cause a current.
    • Motional EMF is given to be EMF=Bℓv, where the velocity v is perpendicular to the magnetic field B (see our Atom on "Motional EMF").
    • Here, the velocity is at an angle θ with B, so that its component perpendicular to B is vsinθ.

  • Circular Motion

    • In uniform circular motion, the force is always perpendicular to the direction of the velocity.
    • The perpendicular direction to the circular trajectory is, therefore, the radial direction.
    • In uniform circular motion, the centripetal force is perpendicular to the velocity.