Chapter 24.2, Problem 32SSC

To determine

The direction of force on the wire.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

When electric current flows through a wire, 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 of the force is determined by Fleming’s left hand rule as shown below.

Here, the current is going in the east direction. Earth’s magnetic field runs from south to north. By Fleming’sleft-hand rule, the force on the wire acts on the upward direction, out of the plane of thepaper.

Conclusion:

The current is going in the east direction. Earth’s magnetic field runs from south to north. By Fleming’s left-hand rule, the force on the wire acts on the upward direction, out of the plane of the paper.