CAPE PHYSICS

Unit 2: Module 1

6 Magnetic Forces
Objective 6.1: Use Fleming's Left-Hand Rule to predict the direction of the force on a
current-carrying conductor

Whenever a current carrying conductor is in a magnetic field, there will be a force

acting on the conductor. Fleming’s Left-Hand Rule can be used to predict the direction
of the force on the current carrying conductor. If the thumb, forefinger and middle
fingers of the left hand are stretched to be perpendicular to each other as shown
above:

 The Thumb points in the direction of the Thrust (force)

 The Forefinger points in the direction of the magnetic Field
 The Center (middle finger) points in the direction of the Current

Objective 6.2: use the equation F= BILsin θ to solve problems

The strength of a magnetic field is usually measured in terms of a quantity called the
magnetic flux density of the field B.
When a wire carrying a current is placed in a magnetic field the wire experiences a
force due to the interaction between the field and the moving charges in the wire. For
example in the diagrams below, from left shows the fields of the magnets, wire and the
combined fields.
In the last diagram, you will notice that the wire moves from the region where the
magnetic field lines are closest to where they are further apart. (they move from high
intensity to low intensity)
The force on the wire is proportional to:
a. the current on the wire
b. the length of the conductor in the field, L
c. the sine of the angle θ that the conductor makes with the field
d. the strength of the field, magnetic flux density, B
F = BILsinθ
The greatest force that a wire may experience is when the wire is at right angles
with the field.

The greater force will be by the wire in Figure 5

Objective 6.3: explain how the force on a current-carrying conductor can be used to
measure the flux density of a magnetic field by means of a current balance

A current balance is similar to a beam balance. They both use some ‘weights’ for
measurement. In a beam balance, ‘weights’ on one side is balanced by some other
‘weights’ on the other side.
In a current balance, it is balanced by a force on a current-carrying conductor.

Objective 6.4: predict the direction of the force on a charge moving in a magnetic field
We can use Fleming’s left hand rule for this but we will use the charge as the electric
current instead.

Objective 6.5: use the expression F = BQvsin θ to solve problems;

For a wire carrying a current I in a field of magnetic flux density B

I = nevA, if ne = q, therefore I = qvA
But I = q/t and F = BILSinθ
Therefore F = BQvsinθ on a charge q and Bevsinθ for an electron
B = magnetic flux density
Q = charge
v = velocity of the particle
θ = angle between the particle and the magnetic field

Objective 6.6: solve problems involving charged particles moving in mutually

perpendicular electric and magnetic fields (See sample questions)

Objective 6.7: describe the effect of a soft iron core on the magnetic field due to a
solenoid
The magnetic field due to a solenoid would be stronger when it has a ferrous core, i.e. the
magnetic flux density in the region near that solenoid would be increased, due to the presence
of the ferrous core.
B = µ0nI
B=
Objective 6.8: explain the principle of the electromagnet and discuss its uses in
doorlocks, switches and other applications;

Objective 6.9: explain the origin of the forces between current-carrying conductors,
and predict the direction of the forces;

In a gravitational field, forces between 2 point masses are always attractive.

In an electric field, forces between 2 point charges are as follows: like charges repel,
unlike charges attract.
In a magnetic field, we consider forces between 2 current-carrying conductors which
are parallel and very thin:
If the currents are in the same direction, they attract,
If the currents are in opposite directions, they repel.
Note for the last row:
Forces on very long conductors are very large.
It is more sensible to consider the force on a unit length of a conductor.
𝐹 µ I I
Force per unit length on a conductor, = 0 1 2
𝑙 2𝜋𝑑
Here, the direction between the B due to I1 and the current I2 are
perpendicular, so sin θ = 1.
To show the direction of the force, when the 2 currents are in the same direction:

In the region on the right of I1, the direction of B1 due to I1 is into the paper
(represented by x x).
• In this region B1, the direction of the force F acting on I2, by Fleming’s left-hand rule,
is to the left, i.e. towards I1. Hence, the force between 2 parallel conductors with
currents in the same direction is attractive.

If the direction of I2 is reversed, the direction of the force F acting on it would also be
reversed (to the right), i.e. repelled by I1.

If the direction of I1 is reversed, the direction of the field B1 due to I1 would also be
reversed (out of paper, represented by • •), so the force F acting on I2 in this reversed
field would also be reversed (to the right), i.e. repelled by I1. Hence, the force between
2 parallel conductors with currents in opposite directions is repulsive.

Objective 6.10: explain the Hall effect;

When a magnetic field is applied to a current carrying conductor in a direction
perpendicular to that of the current flow, a potential difference is created across the
conductor.

Applications of Hall effect:

 To determine if a semi-conductor is p-type or n-type
 To find carrier concentration
 To calculate the mobility of charge carriers (free electrons and holes)
 To measure conductivity
 To measure ac power and the strength of magnetic field

Objective 6.11 use the Hall probe to measure flux density.