Force On A Wire 1

Force On A Wire
 Force On A Wire 2
Introduction

The purpose of this lab report is to investigate how a conductor behaves when exposed to

a magnetic field. The main areas that we will be focusing on are the interactions between a

conductor carrying an electric current and a magnet as well as the forces that are produced as a

result.

During this experiment, we will utilize a magnet with a length of 0.05m and a conductor

which is a copper wire. The conductor will have electric currents running through it, we will then

measure the forces that occur from the conductor interacting with the magnetic field by using a

balancing scale to gauge the forces. To proceed with this experiment, the yoke was oriented in

different variations. The yoke’s first position was at 0° when the electric force is pointing

downwards (Figure 1.1), the second position was at 90° when the electric force was pointing to

the side (Figure 1.2), and the third position was at 180° when the electric force was pointing

upwards (Figure 1.3), and lastly, the last position was at 270° when the electric force was

pointing to the opposite side of position 2 (Figure 1.4).

The outcome of this experiment will provide a better understanding of how conductors

behave in magnetic fields the following equation was then used to identify the trends of this

experiment:

( R−R 0 ¿ g = nBIL (Shortreed, 2023)

g = 9.81 m/s2 (BYJUS, 2023)

n = Number of turns of wires - 8 turns

B = Magnetic Flux Density (Teslas)

I = Current (A)

L = Length of the Magnet (m) - 0.05m

 Force On A Wire 3
Free Body Diagram

(Figure 1.1) (Figure 1.2) (Figure 1.3) (Figure 1.4)

Hypothesis

The reading on the scale FN rises as the current that passes between the yoke at all 4

positions increase. Thus this states that the amount of current flowing through the circuit is

directly proportional to the magnetic field strength. An electric current will always produce a

magnetic field that is perpendicular to the passage of the current. (Byjus, 2022)
 Force On A Wire 4

Lab Materials

● Copper wire of 8 turns

● Ammeter

● High current power supply

● Yoke

● Mass balance

● Sandpaper

● 2 x Magnets of 0.05m

● 2 x Bosshead

● 2 x Retort stand

● 2 x Clamps

● 3 x Wires
 Force On A Wire 5

Procedure

1. The apparatus and materials were set up as shown in figure 1.1

2. The copper wire was attached to the retort stand using two clamps on each side.

3. The length of the two magnets were measured using a metre rule.

4. The two magnets were placed onto the yoke with their opposite poles facing each other.

5. The mass of the yoke without any current, R0 is measured using the mass balance.

6. The yoke was placed on the mass balance at position 1 with the copper wire in between

the yoke.

7. The 3 wires were used to connect the whole setup together which includes the ammeter,

the power supply, and the copper wire.

8. The power supply was switched on and the currents were adjusted until 0.5 A was read

on the ammeter.

9. The reading of mass on the scale is then recorded.

10. Steps 8 and 9 were repeated two more times for a total of three readings. The power

supply was switched off after each reading was recorded to avoid overheating the power

supply.

11. Steps 8 to 10 were repeated with the currents 1.0 A, 1.5 A, 2.0 A and 2.5 A respectively.

12. Steps 8 to 11 were repeated by rotating the yoke 90°, 180°, and 270° respectively from

its original position.

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Diagram

(Figure 1.1 - setup of apparatus and material)

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Data

Position of the yoke at 0°

Starting Mass - 94.55 ± 0.05 g

Mass Recorded (g) ± 0.01

Current Average Magnetic
(A) Mass (g) % Error R−R 0 flux density
( ± 0.01 A ) Reading 1 Reading 2 Reading 3 ( ± 0.01 g ) (g) (T)

0.5 94.60 94.60 94.64 94.61 0.04 0.06 2.94

1.0 94.65 94.63 94.64 94.64 0.02 0.09 2.21
1.5 94.66 94.67 94.65 94.66 0.02 0.11 1.80
2.0 94.70 94.70 94.71 94.70 0.01 0.15 1.84
2.5 94.73 94.74 94.72 94.73 0.02 0.18 1.77
Table 1.1 Position 1 Data See Appendix A

Position of the yoke at 90°

Starting Mass - 94.42 ± 0.05 g

Mass Recorded (g) ± 0.02

Current Average Magnetic

(A) Mass (g) % Error R−R 0 flux density
( ± 0.01 A ) Reading 1 Reading 2 Reading 3 ( ± 0.02 g ) (g) (T)

0.5 94.75 94.76 94.77 94.76 0.02 0.34 16.67

1.0 94.95 94.95 94.93 94.94 0.02 0.52 12.75
1.5 95.16 95.17 95.14 95.16 0.03 0.74 12.10
2.0 95.37 95.36 95.37 95.37 0.01 0.95 11.65
2.5 95.56 95.59 95.58 95.58 0.03 1.16 11.38
Table 1.2 Position 2 Data See Appendix A
 Force On A Wire 8

Position of the yoke at 180°

Starting Mass - 96.18 ± 0.05 g

Mass Recorded (g) ± 0.005
Current Average Magnetic
(A) Mass (g) % Error R−R 0 flux density
( ± 0.01 A ) Reading 1 Reading 2 Reading 3 ( ± 0.005 g) (g) (T)

0.5 96.33 96.34 96.63 96.43 0.31 0.25 12.26

1.0 96.46 96.46 96.48 96.47 0.02 0.29 7.11
1.5 96.61 96.62 96.63 96.62 0.02 0.44 7.19
2.0 96.86 96.79 96.80 96.82 0.07 0.64 7.85
2.5 96.92 96.91 96.92 96.92 0.01 0.74 7.26
Table 1.3 Position 3 Data See Appendix A

Position of the yoke at 270°

Starting Mass - 94.50 ± 0.05 g

Mass Recorded (g) ± 0.01
Current Average Magnetic
(A) Mass (g) % Error R−R 0 flux density
( ± 0.01 A ) Reading 1 Reading 2 Reading 3 ( ± 0.01 g ) (g) (T)

0.5 94.65 94.64 94.66 94.65 0.02 0.15 7.36

1.0 94.83 94.82 94.83 94.83 0.01 0.33 8.09
1.5 95.05 95.03 95.05 95.04 0.02 0.54 8.83
2.0 95.21 95.23 95.21 95.22 0.02 0.72 8.83
2.5 95.34 95.33 95.35 95.34 0.02 0.84 8.24
Table 1.4 Position 4 Data See Appendix A
 Force On A Wire 9

Graph

(Graph 1 R−R 0 (g) vs. Current (A))

(Graph 2 R−R 0 (g) vs. Current (A))

 Force On A Wire 10

(Graph 3 R−R 0 (g) vs. Current (A))

(Graph 4 R−R 0 (g) vs. Current (A))

 Force On A Wire 11
Data Analysis

There are a total of 4 computations in each table. The appendix provides these

computations, which include average mass calculations, magnetic flux density, final mass¿ (g))

and average percentage error. In graphs 1 - 4, the connection may appear to be positively linear

or directly proportional. The trendlines’ mathematical equation is y=mx+b which when

compared to ( R−R 0 ¿ g = nBIL (Shortreed, 2023), and is rearranged into y =mx +b, the change in

mass ( R−R 0 (g)) would be the value of the y-axis and the current would be the value of the x-

NBL
axis. The gradient on the other hand, would be which is the rate of change in mass as the
I

current increases. The y-intercept is actually an error in the experiment which will be further

explained in the Discussion section.

Discussion

Due to the existence of errors, the data collected are not as accurate as they could have

been. This can be verified due to the graph having a y-intercept. Perfect and accurate data should

not have a y-intercept as it would have started from the point (0,0). As an example, during our

experiment, we found out that, when applying force to the table, the reading on the balance

would be affected. This could be the major reason why in table 1.3, for the reading of current 0.5

A, the percentage error is much larger than the rest of the percentage error.

Another reason that our data is not as accurate as it should be is that, before starting the

experiment, we were required to rub sandpaper on the copper wire; this is mainly because the

copper wire that was exposed in the open air reacts with oxygen and forming a layer of copper

oxide which will then add resistance to current flow. Therefore, the current that flows through

the copper wire is not exactly the same as we recorded thus, the final reading is not accurate.
 Force On A Wire 12

Conclusion

In order to better comprehend the direction of magnetic field behaviour, the goal of this

lab was to ascertain the relationship between the current flowing of two magnets that are

attached to the yoke’s walls and having a copper wire in the centre to transmit the current. This

was accomplished by making a variety of yoke rotations and seeing how the magnet force

responds to various current densities. From no current to the highest value of current from the

tables above. It was noticed that different sides of the yoke produced varied beginning masses

and highest value masses, leading to the conclusion that mass increases as current increases

regardless of the angle at which it is applied.

Using the formula ( R−R 0 ¿ g = nBIL (Shortreed, 2023), current increasing will make the

yoke with the magnets attached heavier in terms of mass. However, the magnetic flux density

decreases. Even when the yoke angles are different on the mass balance, it still gives a similar

amount of reading in the tables. The magnets remained in the same orientation.
 Force On A Wire 13
Reference

● A. (2023, February 6). Acceleration due to Gravity - Formula, Values of g and

Variations. BYJUS.

https://byjus.com/jee/acceleration-due-to-gravity/#:~:text=Acceleration%20due%20to

%20gravity%20is%20represented%20by%20g.,is%209.8%20m%2Fs2.

● B. (2022, July 4). How are current and magnetic field related-.

https://byjus.com/question-answer/how-are-current-and-magnetic-field-related/

● How to make an APA Lab Report.mp4. (n.d.). Google Docs. Retrieved March 20, 2023,

from

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VNum_k7FNYDj7PHP0u4YfrNWAyQsYqbY/view
 Force On A Wire 14
Appendix

Equations Sample Calculations

(All calculations are taken from table 1.1, Line 1)

94.61 - 94.55
R❑- R0
= 0.06

(0.06)(9.81)
B=
( R−R0 ) g ( 8)(0.5)(0.05)
B=
NIL
= 2.94 T

94.60+94.60+ 94.64
Reading 1+ Reading 2+ Reading 3 3
Average=
Number of Readings
= 94.61g

94.64−94.60
x 100
Largest Value−Smallest Value 94.61
%Error= x 100
Average
= 0.02%

Note: For the sake of brevity, all repeated formulas and calculations are used for the other
tables as well.