A student wishes to examine how the orientation of a straight current-carrying…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Magnetic Effects of Electric Current · Magnetic Effects of Electric Current
Problem
A student wishes to examine how the orientation of a straight current-carrying conductor affects the mechanical force it experiences in a uniform magnetic field.
(i) State the rule that is used to predict the direction of the mechanical force on the conductor.
(ii) With the help of a clearly labelled sketch, explain how the direction of force changes when the direction of current is reversed while the magnetic field is kept unchanged.
(iii) The conductor is now kept in the same field but makes an angle of 30∘ with the field direction instead of being perpendicular to it. Qualitatively explain how the magnitude of the force will compare with its value in the perpendicular position.
(iv) If the angle is further increased to 60∘, calculate the ratio of the new force to the force obtained in part (iii).