FORCE ON A CURRENT

CARRAYING WIRE PLACED

IN A MAGNETIC FIELD
When a current Carraying conductor is placed in a magnetic field,
then the conductor experiences a force .
 An Activity to show that a force is exerted on the
current carraying conductor when it is placed in a
magnetic field
1. Take a small aluminium rod. Using two connecting wires
suspend it horizontally from a stand.

2. Place a strong horse-show magnet in such a way that the

rod lies between the two poles with the magnetic field
directed upward. For this the north pole of the magnet
vertically below and south pole vertically above the
aluminium rod.

3. Connect the aluminium rod in series with a battery, a key

and a rheostat.

4. Now pass a current through the aluminium rod from the end
end A to end B.
5. It is observed that the rod is displaced towards
left. The rod gets displaced.

6.Reverse the direction of the current flowing

through the rod and observe the direction of its
displacement. It is now towards the right .
 CONCLUSION

1. Force is exerted on the current carrying Al rod when it is placed in the magnetic field.

2. Direction of force is reversed when direction of current through conductor is reversed.

3. If the direction of magnetic field is reversed , the direction of force gets reversed.
FLEMING’S LEFT HAND RULE
 Fleming‘s left hand rule

• Used to determine the direction of Force acting

on a current carraying conductor placed in a
magnetic field.
• The middle finger ,the forefinger and the thumb of
the left hand are kept at right angles to each
other.

• The middle finger represents the direction of

current .
• The forefinger represents the direction of magnetic
field .
• The thumb will indicate the direction of force
acting on the conductor.
REVISION QUESTION
Q. A stream of positively charged particles moving towards west is deflected through
north by a magnetic field. The direction of magnetic field:
A.) towards north C.) Downward

B.) Towards east D.) Upward