Electromagnetism and the Motor Effect

Answers
1. State the direction of current flow through the coils of a solenoid at its magnetic south
pole.

clockwise

2. Give two ways of increasing the size of the force experienced by a current-carrying wire
placed in an external magnetic field.

Any two from:

• increase the current flowing through the wire

• increase the strength of the magnet providing the external magnetic field

• increase the length of the wire within the magnetic field

3. An electric current flows upwards through a vertical wire. Use the right-hand grip rule to
determine the direction of the magnetic field around the wire.

anticlockwise

4. Describe how magnetic field lines can be drawn to show the strength of the magnetic
field.

Field lines drawn close together represent a stronger magnetic field than

field lines drawn further apart.

5. Compare the magnetic field produced by a straight wire and a solenoid when the same
current is passed through them.

The magnetic field produced by the solenoid is stronger than the straight wire.

The magnetic field of both the straight wire and the solenoid is the strongest close

to the wire.

The magnetic field around a solenoid has a north and south pole whereas the field

around a wire is circular.

6. Suggest what happens to the magnetic field through an electromagnet when the current
flowing through it is reversed.

The direction of the magnetic field is also reversed.

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 Electromagnetism and the Motor Effect

7. Calculate the current that would be required to flow through a 50cm length of wire
suspended within the Earth’s magnetic field for it to experience a force of 2N. The
magnetic flux density of the Earth’s magnetic field is 5.0 x 10-5 T.

Give your answer in standard form.

current = force ÷ (magnetic flux density x length)

50cm = 0.5m

current = 2 ÷ (0.00005 x 0.5)

current = 2 ÷ 0.000025

current = 80 000

current = 8 x 104 A

8. Explain why magnetic field lines point into a solenoid at its south pole.

Magnetic field lines point in the direction that the magnetic force would act if the

north pole of another magnet was placed into the magnetic field at that point.

There would be an attractive force between opposing magnetic poles (‘unlike’ poles

attract/a south pole attracts a north pole).

The attractive force would act into the coils of the solenoid.

9. Explain how Fleming's left-hand rule can be used to determine the direction of the
magnetic field around a wire.

• pass a current through the wire while it is placed in the magnetic field

• observe the direction of the movement of the wire (due to the motor effect)

• curl the fingers of your left hand into your palm and extend your thumb upwards

• extend your forefinger forwards at right angles to your thumb

• extend your middle finger to the right at right angles to your thumb and

forefinger

• align your thumb with the direction you observed the wire to move/with the

direction of the force

• align your middle finger with the flow of conventional current through the wire

• the direction your forefinger is pointing represents the direction of the magnetic

field

• from the north to the south pole

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