Magnetic Effects of Electric Current

Describe the activity that shows that a current-carrying conductor experiences a force perpendicular to its length and the external magnetic field. How does Fleming’s left-hand rule help us to find the direction of the force acting on the current-carrying conductor?

Answer: Take a small aluminium rod (AB) and bend it in half (of about 5 cm). As shown in Fig. 1, you can suspend it horizontally from a stand by using two connecting wires. A strong horseshoe magnet...

read more

Explain with the help of a labeled diagram the distribution of magnetic field due to a current through a circular loop. Why is it that if a current-carrying coil has n turns the field produced at any point is n times as large as that produced by a single turn?

Answer: Even in a current-carrying loop, the right-hand thumb rule is observed and followed. This demonstrates that magnetic field lines are present all around the conducting wire. However, because...

read more

With the help of a labeled circuit diagram illustrating the pattern of field lines of the magnetic field around a current-carrying straight long conducting wire. How is the right-hand thumb rule useful to find the direction of the magnetic field associated with a current-carrying conductor?

Answer: A straight conductor carrying current is held in the right hand with the thumb pointing in the direction of the current, according to the right-hand thumb rule. The fingers of the right hand...

read more

Why does a magnetic compass needle pointing North and South in the absence of a nearby magnet get deflected when a bar magnet or a current-carrying loop is brought near it. Describe some salient features of magnetic lines of field concept.

Answer:Current carrying loops act as bar magnets with associated lines of the field, which are represented by the arrows. As a result, the existing earth's magnetic field is altered, resulting in a...

read more

Meena draws magnetic field lines of the field close to the axis of a current-carrying circular loop. As she moves away from the centre of the circular loop she observes that the lines keep on diverging. How will you explain her observation?

Answer: The magnetic field strength decreases as the distance between the two points decreases. It is indicated by a decrease in the degree of closeness of the lines of field in the image.

read more

It is established that an electric current through a metallic conductor produces a magnetic field around it. Is there a similar magnetic field produced around a thin beam of moving (i) alpha particles, (ii) neutrons? Justify your answer.

Solution: i) Due to the fact that they are positively charged, alpha particles serve to generate current in the direction of motion. ii) Because neutrons do not have any charge on them, they do not...

read more

A magnetic compass needle is placed in the plane of paper near point A as shown in Figure 13.6. In which plane should a straight current-carrying conductor be placed so that it passes through A and there is no change in the deflection of the compass? Under what condition is the deflection maximum and why?

Answer: In the plane of the paper itself, to be precise. The axis of the compass is vertical, and the magnetic field produced by the conductor is vertical as well. Because of this, it is not...

read more

The strength of the magnetic field inside a long current carrying straight solenoid is
(a) more at the ends than at the centre
(b) minimum in the middle
(c) same at all points
(d) found to increase from one end to the other

Solution: Answer is (c) same at all points Magnetic field lines are parallel inside the solenoid. This indicates the existence of a strong magnetic field. As a result, the magnetic field is uniform...

read more

A constant current flow in a horizontal wire in the plane of the paper from east to west as shown in Figure 13.5. The direction of the magnetic field at a point will be North to South
(a) directly above the wire
(b) directly below the wire
(c) at a point located in the plane of the paper, on the north side of the wire
(d) at a point located in the plane of the paper, on the south side of the wire

Solution: The answer is (b) directly below the wire We can determine the direction of the magnetic field beneath the wire by applying the right-hand thumb rule.

read more

Choose the incorrect statement
(a) Fleming’s right-hand rule is a simple rule to know the direction of induced current
(b) The right-hand thumb rule is used to find the direction of magnetic fields due to current-carrying conductors
(c) The difference between the direct and alternating currents is that the direct current always flows in one direction, whereas the alternating current reverses its direction periodically
(d) In India, the AC changes direction after every 1/50 second

Solution: The answer is (d) In India, the AC changes direction after every 1/50 second In India, the alternating current frequency is 50 Hz. Each cycle, the direction changes twice, so that the...

read more

In the arrangement shown in Figure 13.4, there are two coils wound on a non-conducting cylindrical rod. Initially, the key is not inserted. Then the key is inserted and later removed. Then
(a) the deflection in the galvanometer remains zero throughout
(b) there is a momentary deflection in the galvanometer, but it dies out shortly and there is no effect when the key is removed
(c) there are momentary galvanometer deflections that die out shortly; the deflections are in the same direction
(d) there are momentary galvanometer deflections that die out shortly; the deflections are in opposite directions

Solution: The answer is (d) there are momentary galvanometer deflections that die out shortly; the deflections are in opposite directions When the key is plugged in, the galvanometer shows...

read more

A uniform magnetic field exists in the plane of paper pointing from left to right as shown in Figure 13.3. In the field an electron and a proton move as shown. The electron and the proton experience
(a) forces both pointing into the plane of paper
(b) forces both pointing out of the plane of paper
(c) forces pointing into the plane of paper and out of the plane of paper, respectively
(d) force pointing opposite and along the direction of the uniform magnetic field respectively

Solution: Answer is (a) forces both pointing into the plane of the paper Explanation: The direction of an electron's motion is the polar opposite of the direction of an electric current. This will...

read more

For a current in a long straight solenoid N- and S-poles are created at the two ends. Among the following statements, the incorrect statement is
(a) The field lines inside the solenoid are in the form of straight lines which indicates that the magnetic field is the same at all points inside the solenoid
(b) The strong magnetic field produced inside the solenoid can be used to magnetise a piece of magnetic material like soft iron, when placed inside the coil
(c) The pattern of the magnetic field associated with the solenoid is different from the pattern of the magnetic field around a bar magnet
(d) The N- and S-poles exchange position when the direction of current through the solenoid is reversed

Solution: Answer is (c) The pattern of the magnetic field associated with the solenoid is different from the pattern of the magnetic field around a bar magnet Because the solenoid behaves similarly...

read more

For a current in a long straight solenoid N- and S-poles are created at the two ends. Among the following statements, the incorrect statement is
(a) The field lines inside the solenoid are in the form of straight lines which indicates that the magnetic field is the same at all points inside the solenoid
(b) The strong magnetic field produced inside the solenoid can be used to magnetize a piece of a magnetic material like soft iron when placed inside the coil
(c) The pattern of the magnetic field associated with the solenoid is different from the pattern of the magnetic field around a bar magnet
(d) The N- and S-poles exchange position when the direction of current through the solenoid is reversed

Solution: Answer is (c) The pattern of the magnetic field associated with the solenoid is different from the pattern of the magnetic field around a bar magnet Explanation: Due to the fact that a...

read more

A circular loop placed in a plane perpendicular to the plane of paper carries a current when the key is ON. The current as seen from points A and B (in the plane of the paper and on the axis of the coil) is anti-clockwise and clockwise respectively. The magnetic field lines point from B to A. The N-pole of the resultant magnet is on the face close to
(a) A
(b) B
(c) A if the current is small, and B if the current is large
(d) B if the current is small and A if the current is large

Solution: Answer is (a) A Explanation: The magnetic field will be directed from the south pole to the north pole. As a result of field lines pointing from point B to point A, point A is displaying...

read more

Choose the incorrect statement from the following regarding magnetic lines of the field
(a) The direction of the magnetic field at a point is taken to be the direction in which the north pole of a magnetic compass needle points
(b) Magnetic field lines are closed curves
(c) If magnetic field lines are parallel and equidistant, they represent zero-field strength
(d) The relative strength of the magnetic field is shown by the degree of closeness of the field lines

In the case of open magnetic field lines drawn over the horizontal plane ABCD, the magnetic field lines will take the shape of concentric circles, with the centre of each circle located at the axis...

read more

Choose the incorrect statement from the following regarding magnetic lines of the field
(a) The direction of the magnetic field at a point is taken to be the direction in which the north pole of a magnetic compass needle points
(b) Magnetic field lines are closed curves
(c) If magnetic field lines are parallel and equidistant, they represent zero-field strength
(d) The relative strength of the magnetic field is shown by the degree of closeness of the field lines

Answer is (c) If magnetic field lines are parallel and equidistant, they represent zero-field strength Explanation: Due to the fact that parallel lines of magnetism represent a homogenous magnetic...

read more