1.

6 PRODUCTION
OF INDUCED
FORCE ON A WIRE
 A second major effect of a magnetic
field on its surroundings is that
induces a force on a current-carrying
wire within the field.
• The figure below shows a conductor present in a
uniform magnetic field of
FLUX DENSITY B, pointing into the page.
• The conductor itself is “l” meters long and
contains a current
of “I” amperes.
• The force induced on the conductor is given by
F = i(I X B)
F = i(I X B)

Where:
i = magnitude of current in wire
l = lenght of wire, with direction of l defined to be in the direction of current
flow
B = magnetic flux density vector
The force exerted on that wire is proportional
to the strength of the field,
the amount of current and the length
of the wire. The equation looks like this:
F= ilB sin θ
where:
•F is the force acting on the current-carrying conductor
•B the magnetic flux density or magnetic flux density
•I the magnitude of the current flowing through the conductor
•l the length of the conductor
•θ the angle the conductor makes with the magnetic field
• (remember that only perpendicular components are being affected)

F= ilB sin θ
EXAMPLE:The figure shows a wire carrying a current
in the presence of a magnetic field. The magnetic
flux density is 0.25 T, directed into the page. If the
wire is 1.0 m long and carries 0.5A of current in the direction from the
top of the page to the bottom of the page, what are the magnitude and
direction of the force induced on the wire?
 

SOLUTION: The direction of the force given by the right hand rule as being to the
right. The magnitude is given by
F= ilB sin θ
= (0.5 A)(1.0 m)(0.25 T)sin 90
THEREFORE,
F= 0.125 N, directed to the right

The induction of the force in a wire by a current in the presence of a magnetic field
is the basis of motor action. Almost every type of motor depends on this basic
principle for the forces and torques which make it move.
The thing is Current-Carrying wires don't only create magnetic
fields, but are also affected by magnetic fields. When a current-
carrying wire is placed in a magnetic field the magnetic filed
exerts a force on the wire. Until now we saw that Forces are
measured in Newton's (N) and that the magnetic field strengh or
flux density is measured in Tesla (T).