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Thank you @kuruman !kuruman said:The two angles are supplementary. Either one is correct if you only have the magnitude of the cross product.
The angle between proton velocity and B-field is known as the pitch angle. It is the angle between the direction of motion of a charged particle (such as a proton) and the direction of the magnetic field it is moving through.
The pitch angle can be calculated using the formula θ = tan-1(v⊥/v||), where v⊥ is the velocity component perpendicular to the magnetic field and v|| is the velocity component parallel to the magnetic field.
The angle between proton velocity and B-field can be affected by the strength of the magnetic field, the speed of the charged particle, and the direction of the magnetic field relative to the direction of motion of the particle. It can also be affected by any external forces acting on the particle.
The pitch angle is an important parameter in plasma physics as it determines the behavior of charged particles in a magnetic field. It affects the trajectory and energy of the particles, as well as their interactions with other particles and the overall dynamics of the plasma.
The pitch angle is an important factor in the study of space weather as it affects the movement and distribution of charged particles in space. It can impact the intensity and direction of particle flows, which can have implications for satellite operations and human space travel.