A technician places a straight wire of length 0.15 m in a uniform magnetic field of 0.20 T
MATHEMATICS · Multi-part · ISC · Mathematics · Physics · Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism
Problem
A technician places a straight wire of length 0.15 m in a uniform magnetic field of 0.20 T. The wire carries a current of 5 A and is tilted so that it makes an angle of 60° with the direction of the magnetic field.
Study the situation and answer the questions that follow.
(i) Calculate the magnitude of the force acting on the wire in its present position.
(ii) What orientation of the wire would give the maximum possible force for the same current and magnetic field? Calculate this maximum force.
(iii) Explain briefly why the force on the wire depends on the orientation you stated in part (ii).