2

CHAPTER

Magnetic Effect of
Electric Current
I
n the previous Chapter we have studied that an electric current
can produce heating effect. We will now study that an electric
current can also produce a magnetic effect. The term ‘magnetic
effect of electric current’ means that ‘an electric current flowing in
a wire produces a magnetic field around it’. In other words, electric
current can produce magnetism. This will become more clear from
the following activity. Take about one metre long insulated copper
wire and wind it round and round closely on a large iron nail (see
Figure 1). Then connect the ends of the wire to a battery. We will
find that the large iron nail can now attract tiny iron nails towards
it (as shown in Figure 1). This has happened because an electric Figure 1. An electric current flowing in the
current flowing in the wire has produced a magnetic field which coiled copper wire has turned the large iron
has turned the large iron nail into a magnet. Please note that the nail into a magnet. This is an example of
current-carrying straight electric wires (like an electric iron magnetic effect of current.
connecting cable) do not attract the nearby iron objects towards
them because the strength of magnetic field produced by them
is quite weak. We will now describe a magnet, poles of a
magnet, magnetic field and magnetic field lines briefly. This
is necessary to understand the magnetic effect of current.
A magnet is an object which attracts pieces of iron, steel,
nickel and cobalt. Magnets come in various shapes and sizes
depending on their intended use. One of the most common
magnets is the bar magnet. A bar magnet is a long, rectangular Figure 2. This diagram shows how to support a
bar of uniform cross-section which attracts pieces of iron, bar magnet on two watch glasses so that it can rotate
steel, nickel and cobalt. We usually use bar magnets for freely.