Question

What is the direction of the magnetic force on the current in each of the six cases in Figure${}^{\mathbf{22}\mathbf{.}\mathbf{53}}$?

Short answer

a) The force will be directed to the left (west).

b) The force will be directed inside the page (inwards).

c) The force will be directed upwards (north).

d) There is no force.

e) The force will be directed to the right (east).

f) The force will be directed downwards (south).

Step-by-step solution

Concept Introduction

The magnetic force causes electrically charged particles to attract or repel one other due to their mobility. It is the underlying force that generates phenomena such as electric motor activity and magnet attraction to iron.

Direction of the Magnetic Force

In every instance, we will apply the right-hand rule to establish the force's direction. The direction of the force will be perpendicular to the palm, and we will adapt our thumb to the direction of the current and the rest of our fingers to the direction of the magnetic field. It's also worth remembering that if the current and magnetic field directions are parallel or anti-parallel, the force will be zero, according to the equation.

(a)

Because the current is going down and the magnetic field is pointing out of the page, the force will be to the left or west.

(b)

Because the current is going up and the magnetic field is going right, the force will point to the interior of the page (inwards).

(c)

If the current is directed to the right and the magnetic field is pointing into the page, the force will be traveling north or up direction.

(d)

The force will be 0 since the current is to the left and the magnetic field is to the right (They are anti-parallel and therefore value of${}^{\mathbf{s}\mathbf{i}\mathbf{n}\left(\theta \right)\mathbf{=}\mathbf{0}}$).

(e)

The force will be pointing to the right or east since the current is pointing into the page and the magnetic field is heading upward.

(f)

The force will be heading south or downwards if the current is pointing out of the page and the magnetic field is pointing to the left.