Magnetic Force Physics Example 2

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Example 2

medium
A wire carrying 8 A8 \text{ A} is 0.5 m0.5 \text{ m} long and placed at 60°60° to a 0.4 T0.4 \text{ T} magnetic field. What force acts on the wire?

Solution

  1. 1
    Force on a current-carrying wire: F=BILsin⁡θF = BIL\sin\theta.
  2. 2
    F=0.4×8×0.5×sin⁡60°F = 0.4 \times 8 \times 0.5 \times \sin 60°
  3. 3
    F=1.6×0.866=1.39 NF = 1.6 \times 0.866 = 1.39 \text{ N}

Answer

F≈1.39 NF \approx 1.39 \text{ N}
A current-carrying wire in a magnetic field experiences a force because the moving charges interact with the field. The force is maximum when the wire is perpendicular to the field and zero when parallel.

About Magnetic Force

The force exerted on a moving charge or current-carrying conductor by a magnetic field.

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