DAWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL

Physics - Grade: XI

Force on Conductor in Magnetic Field.

By: Ghulam Murtaza(GM)
 1. Magnetic Effect of a Current

• Remember the electromagnet - a soft-iron

bar can be magnetised by putting it in a
current carrying solenoid. This is an
example of magnetism from electricity.
 Direction of the Magnetic Field

 A current carrying wire has a

magnetic field set up around it. This
can easily be investigated using a
plotting compass.
 Figure 1 shows the magnetic field of a wire
being investigated using a plotting compass.
 Figure 2 shows Maxwell’s
Right Hand Grip Rule for
determining the direction
of the magnetic field
around the wire. The hand
grips the wire with the
thumb pointing in the
direction of the current.
The fingers point in the
direction of the magnetic
fields.
 Note
– If current is reversed, the direction of the
magnetic field lines will also be reversed as
well.
The Magnetic Field Pattern due
to a Flat Coil

A flat coil has a magnetic field pattern

as shown.
 2. Force on a Current-Carrying
Conductor in a Magnetic Field
• Previously, we learnt that a current-
carrying wire has a magnetic field around
it.
– If we place this same wire in another
magnetic field:
– The 2 magnetic fields may interact.
– This interaction will produce a force on the
wire.
– This effect is known as the Motor Effect.
Is the direction of motion of BC indicated
correctly in the diagram below?
 Fleming's Left-Hand Rule
• To deduce the direction of the force on the current-
carrying wire, we may use Fleming's Left-Hand Rule.
 Hold the thuMb, Forefinger & seCond
finger (of Your Left Hand) at right angles to
each other.
 Point the Forefinger in the direction of the
magnetic Field (N to S).
 Point the seCond finger in the direction of
the Current.
 The thuMb will then point in the direction
of the Motion of the wire.
Why does a Force exist on a
Current-carrying wire when
placed in a Magnetic Field?
 When you put a current-carrying
wire (which has a magnetic field
around it) in a magnetic field, both
magnetic fields will interact with
each other.
 Following figures are the magnetic
fields due to magnets & current in a
wire.
 When the current-carrying wire is put into the
magnetic field due to the magnet, the 2 magnetic
fields interact with each other. The resulting
combined magnetic field is as shown:
 Did you notice that the magnetic
field is stronger at A than at B?
 Due to the difference in magnetic
field strengths at A & B, a force will
then act on the wire. This force will
act on the wire in the direction of
the stronger field to the weaker
field as shown in the above
diagram.
3. Force between Two Parallel Current-
Carrying Wires

• Previously, we learnt that a current-

carrying wire has a magnetic field around
it.
• If we place 2 such wires parallel to each
other, the 2 magnetic fields will then
interact.
• A force will act on each of the wires.
• The diagrams above illustrate what
happens if we combine the magnetic fields
due to 2 wires carrying currents flowing in
opposite directions.
Direction of the Force on a Wire
=?
Force on a Wire
• The diagrams above illustrate what happens if
we combine the magnetic fields due to 2 wires
carrying currents flowing in the same direction.
4. Force on a Current-Carrying
Rectangular Coil in a Magnetic Field

 Study the diagram below.

 Note that the stiff wire loop ABCD is
placed in between the poles of a strong
magnet. Pass a current through the
loop. A turning force on the wire loop
results.
 If current flows in a clockwise direction
in ABCD, the loop experiences a
clockwise turning moment (as shown in
the diagram).
 If the current flows in an anticlockwise
direction in ABCD, will the loop
experience a turning moment? If there
is a turning moment, what then is its
direction?
To see why there is a turning effect, let’s look at the combined
magnetic fields due to the current-carrying loop & the magnets.

From the diagrams above, we see that wire AB will have a

force acting on one side while the force on wire CD is acting
on the other side. Thus ABCD turns.
The D.C. Motor

 In the previous section, we saw that a current-

carrying loop that is placed in a magnetic field
experiences a turning effect. This turning
effect on a loop carrying a current has a very
important application – the D.C. Motor.
The D.C. Motor
• ABCD is mounted on an axle PQ.
The ends of the wire are
connected to a split rings X & Y
(also known as commutators).
The commutators rotate with the
loop. 2 carbon brushes are made
to press lightly against the
commutators.
• When current runs through
ABCD as shown in the diagram,
a downward force would act on
AB. An upward force would act
on CD. The loop rotates in an
anticlockwise manner until it
reaches the vertical position.
• At this position, the current is
cut off. However, the momentum
of the loop carries it past the
vertical position. The current in
the wire arm CD is now
reversed. A downward force acts
on it. An upward force also acts
on AB. Therefore, the loop ABCD
continues to rotate in an
anticlockwise manner.
What is the purpose of the commutator?

 To reverse the current in the coil for every

half cycle
Three ways to increase the turning
effect on the wire loop:

 Increase the current in the coil

 Increase the number of turns in the coil

 Use stronger magnets

 Practical motors

 Several sets of coils are

used, each set at a different
angle and with its own pair
of commutator

• Each coils contain

hundreds of turns of wire
and are wound on a core
call an armature.
 Practical motors

The pole pieces are curved to

create a radial magnetic field
Practical motors
 Several sets of coils are used, each set at a
different angle and with its own pair of
commutator.
 Each coils contain hundreds of turns of wire
and are wound on a core call an armature.
 The pole pieces are curved to create a radial
magnetic field.
 MOVING PARTICLES
•Remember that an electric current
represents a flow of positive
particles from positive to negative.
•If a proton was moving through a
magnetic field you could use
Flemming’s left hand rule to work
out how its motion would be
changed.
•For negative particles, such as an
electron, you can still use the left
hand rule but the direction of
force/thrust will need to be reversed.
•Any particle moving along a
magnetic field line will not be 37
affected by the field.
Aurora
One useful application of the force on a current-
carrying conductor in a magnetic field is the Moving
Coil Loudspeaker.