<BGSOUND src="http://www.cyberphysics.co.uk/file.wav"> Cyberphysics - An experiment to illustrate the Force on a Wire in a Magnetic Field head



Topic Menu

 
 
An experiment to illustrate the Force on a Wire in a Magnetic Field
:

When a curent flows in the wire, a force is exerted on the magnet on the top pan balance and a reading on the balance can be recorded. If the current is reversed, the balance shows a negative value, showing that the force on the magnets reverses. The force also reverses if the field direction is reversed.
If a bigger current is passed through the wire the force is bigger and a larger reading is observed on the balance.

The size of the force depends on:

  • the size of the current (this can be increased by increasing the voltage from the power supply)
  • the length of conductor in the field
  • the strength of the magnetic field (this can be increased by using stronger magnets)

  • the angle between the conductor and the flux lines: F is a maximum if the angle is 90° and is zero if the angle is 0°

 

 

 

 

Cyberphysics.co.uk is written and maintained by a teacher who has more than 20 years experience of teaching in a British selective girls' Grammar School