Practise identifying when a current-carrying conductor experiences magnetic force, then determining the force direction from the field and current.
An insulated rectangular coil of wire, consisting of 40 turns, is suspended in a cradle from a newton meter, as shown in Fig. 7.1.
Fig. 7.1
The vertical sides of the coil have a length of 5.00 cm and the horizontal sides have a length of 3.00 cm . The initial reading on the newton meter is 0.563 N .
A U-shaped magnet rests on a top-pan balance that is set to a reading of 0.00 g . The lower edge of the coil is lowered into the region between the poles of the U-shaped magnet, as shown in the side view in Fig. 7.2.
Fig. 7.2
The magnetic field in the region between the poles is uniform.
The lower edge of the coil is entirely within the uniform magnetic field.
A current of 3.94 A is now passed through the coil. This causes the reading on the top-pan balance to change to 2.16 g .
Explain why the current causes a vertical force to act on the coil.