Consider a straight current-carrying conductor of fixed length placed in a uniform…
MATHEMATICS · Multi-part · ISC · Mathematics · Physics · Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism
Problem
Consider a straight current-carrying conductor of fixed length placed in a uniform magnetic field.
(i) State the factors on which the magnitude of the mechanical force acting on the conductor depends and write the corresponding mathematical expression.
(ii) Explain, with the help of trigonometric reasoning, why the force is zero when the conductor is parallel to the magnetic field and maximum when it is perpendicular to the field.
(iii) As the angle between the conductor and the magnetic field is slowly increased from 0∘ to 90∘, describe qualitatively how the force varies with the angle.