Chapter 24.2, Problem 19PP

To determine

The method to determine the direction of the force on the wire carrying current.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

When an electric current flows through a wire, the magnetic field is generated around the wire. The direction of the field is determined by the right-hand rule.

A conductor carrying current generates its own magnetic field. When placed in another magnetic field, a force is exerted on the wire because of the interaction between the magnetic field and the field generated by the current-carrying wire. The direction in which the force is exerted on the conducting wire can be known by Fleming’s left-hand rule.

  

For determining the direction of the force on the wire carrying current, the direction of the flow of the current and direction of the external field is required to be known.