Compass Needle Deflection

Upon completion of this module, you should be able to

Explain why does a magnetic needle show a deflection when
brought close to a current-carrying conductor?
A current-carrying wire behaves similarly to a magnet.

Place a straight, thick copper wire between positions A and

B in an electric circuit.

The wire AB is kept perpendicular to the plane of the paper.

Place a tiny compass horizontally near this copper wire.

Examine the needle's location.

Insert the key into the plug to allow current to flow across
the circuit.

Take note of how the compass needle's location changes.

We can see that the needle has been deflected. We can see that the needle has
What does it imply? been deflected.
What does it imply?
It denotes that the electric current flowing through the
copper wire caused a magnetic effect.
 When a magnet is placed close to it, the magnetic force is
exerted on the compass needle.

As a result, electricity and magnetism are closely linked.