For a given straight conductor of fixed length and current placed in a uniform…
MATHEMATICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Mathematics · Introduction to Trigonometry · Introduction to Trigonometry
Problem
For a given straight conductor of fixed length and current placed in a uniform magnetic field, the greatest possible force on the conductor is denoted by Fmax.
(i) Establish the relation between the actual force F acting on the conductor and Fmax in terms of the sine of the angle θ between the conductor and the magnetic field.
(ii) Determine the value(s) of θ (in degrees) for which the force is exactly half of Fmax. Give your answers correct to the nearest degree.
(iii) Show that the two angles obtained in part (ii) are supplementary to each other.
(iv) Give a physical explanation of why these two different orientations of the conductor lead to the same magnitude of force.