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Electro Magnetism: The Magnetic Effect of A Current
Electro Magnetism: The Magnetic Effect of A Current
The direction of magnetic field around a current carrying wire is determined by the
Right hand Grip rule:
"Grip the wire with the right hand such that the thumb points the direction of current
and curl of fingers in the direction of magnetic field."
Magnetic Field Strength
The strength and direction of the field depend on the size and direction of the current:
1. If the current is increased, the field will get stronger
2. If the direction of the current is changed, the direction of the field will change
The strength of the magnetic field is related to the distance between the field lines:
As the field lines spread out, the field gets weaker.
The field lines around a wire get further apart the further they are from the wire.
When a wire is looped into a coil, the magnetic field lines circle around each part of
the coil, passing through the centre of it.
The magnetic field around a solenoid look the same as the magnetic field around a
bar magnet.
.
One end of the solenoid behaves like the north pole of a magnet; the other side
behaves like the south pole.
Inside the solenoid the field lines straighten up and are very close together – they
form a strong uniform field.
The strength can be increased be increasing the current, increasing number of turns
on solenoid and by using soft iron core inside the solenoid.
Solenoid Applications
A solenoid can be used as an electromagnet by adding a soft iron core.
(This increases the strength of the magnetic field significantly)
When a current passes through the coil, it attracts the switch, closing it which allows a current
in the right-hand part of the circuit
The direction of the force on a current-carrying wire can be worked out by using the left-
hand rule:
Start by pointing your First Finger in the direction of the (magnetic) Field
Now rotate your hand around the first finger so that the seCond finger points in the
direction of the Current
The THumb will now be pointing in the direction of the THrust (the force)
Rules for applying Fleming's Left hand rule
The direction of magnetic field is always from N-pole to the S-pole of a magnet.
The rule applies only, where the current and field directions are perpendicular to each
other.
The direction of current is taken opposite to flow of electrons. i.e. conventional current
direction is considered.
Force acting on side AB = downwards or into the page Sign = an encircled "x"
Force acting on side CD = upwards or out of the page Sign = an encircled "."
No forces act on side BC or AD since the current and current directions are not
perpendicular in this case.
If the Fleming's left hand rule is applied to a beam of electrons, the direction of current
is OPPOSITE to the flow of electrons.
If the Fleming's left hand rule is applied to a beam of protons, the direction of current is
same as that of flow of protons..
Working
It reverses the direction of current in a coil. With the result the direction of forces
also reverses and the coils continues to rotate in the same direction.