Magnetic effects of electric current

1.
- Electric current flowing in a wire deflects a magnetic needle below it.
- The direction of deflection of the magnetic needle is reversed if the direction of
current in the wire is reversed.
- Reason: An electric current is equivalent to the charges (or electrons) in motion.
Such charges produce magnetic interaction. The magnetic field produce by the
conductor/wire carrying current thus interacts with the magnetic needle and deflects
it.
o E.g: if we imagine a man swimming along the wire in the direction of current
with his face always turned toward the needle, so that the current enters at his
feet and leaves at his head, then the N-pole of the magnetic needle will be
deflected toward his left hand.
This rule can be recollected with the help of the word SNOW. It means,
current from South to North, in a wire over the magnetic needle, the north pole
of the needle is deflected toward West.
2.
-A magnetic field is the space around a magnet or a space around a conductor
carrying current in which magnetic influence can be experienced.
- The magnetic field disappears (in the second case) as soon as the current is switched
off. It suggests that motion of electrons in the wire produces a magnetic field.
-In general, a moving charge is a source of magnetic field.
- Due to the interaction between the magnetic field produced due to a moving charge,
i.e. current and the magnetic field applied, the charge q then experiences a force, which
depends upon the following factors:
1. The magnitude of the force F experienced is directly proportional to the magnitude
of the charge, i.e. F ∝ q
2. The magnitude of the force F is directly proportional to the component of velocity
acting perpendicular to the direction of magnetic field, i.e. F ∝ ν sin θ.
3. The magnitude of the force F is directly proportional to the magnitude of the
magnetic field applied, i.e. F ∝ B.
Thus, combing the above factors, we get
F ∝ q ν sin θ B F = k q ν sin θ B ,Where, k is the constant of
proportionality and its value is found to be 1.
F = q ν sin θ B or
|F → | = q |v → × B →| or
F → = q |v → × B →|
It is the equation of a magnetic Lorentz force experienced by a charged particle moving in the
magnetic field.
a) If ν = 1, q = 1 and sin θ = 1 or θ = 90°, then F = 1 × 1 × B × 1 = B
Thus, the magnetic field induction at any point in the field is equal to the force acting on a
unit charge moving with a unit velocity perpendicular to the direction of magnetic field at
that point.

b) In cases where, θ = 0° or 180º, then sin θ = 0 F = q ν sin θ B = 0

Thus, a charged particle moving parallel to the direction of magnetic field, does not
experience any force.
c) If ν = 0 then F = q ν sin θ B = 0
It means that if a charged particle is at rest in a magnetic field, it experiences no force.
d) If θ = 90°, then sin θ = 1 F = q ν (1) B = q ν B
It means that if a charge particle is moving along a line perpendicular to the direction of a
magnetic field, it experiences a maximum force. The direction of this force is determined by
Fleming’s Left Hand Rule.

Fleming’s Left Hand Rule states that:

If we stretch the first finger, the central finger and the thumb of left hand mutually
perpendicular to each other such that the
first finger points to the direction of magnetic field,
the central finger points to the direction of electric current (motion of the positive
charge)
then, the thumb represents the direction of force experienced by the charge particle.

Biot-Savart’s law
Biot-Savart’s Law is an experimental law predicted by Biot and Savart in the year 1820. This
law deals with the magnetic field induction at a point due to a small current element (a part of
any conductor carrying current).

Let AB is a small element of length dl of the conductor XY which is carrying I. Let r be the
position vector of the point P from the current element dl and be the angle dl and r.
According to Biot-Savart’s law, the magnetic field induction dB (also called magnetic flux
density) at a point P due to current element depends the factors as stated below: 1. dB ∝ I 2.
dB ∝ dl 3. dB ∝ sin θ 4. dB ∝ 1/r2 On combining these factors, we get dB ∝ I dl sin θ/r2 dB
= K I dl sin θ/r2.

3.
Magnetic field due to a straight conductor carrying current.
The magnetic lines of force due to straight conductor carrying current are in the form of
concentric circles with the conductor as centre, lying in a plane perpendicular to the straight
conductor.
The direction of magnetic lines of force is anticlockwise, if the current flows from A to B in
the straight conductor and is clockwise if the current flows from B to A in the straight
conductor.
The direction of magnetic lines of force can be given by right hand thumb rule or Maxwell’s
cork screw rule.
Note: If 10 marks question, explain right hand thumb rule and Maxwell’s cork screw rule.