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8.5 Magnetic force on a current-carrying conductor

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  • Describe the effects of a magnetic force on a current-carrying conductor.
  • Calculate the magnetic force on a current-carrying conductor.

Because charges ordinarily cannot escape a conductor, the magnetic force on charges moving in a conductor is transmitted to the conductor itself.

A diagram showing a circuit with current I running through it. One section of the wire passes between the north and south poles of a magnet with a diameter l. Magnetic field B is oriented toward the right, from the north to the south pole of the magnet, across the wire. The current runs out of the page. The force on the wire is directed up. An illustration of the right hand rule 1 shows the thumb pointing out of the page in the direction of the current, the fingers pointing right in the direction of B, and the F vector pointing up and away from the palm.
The magnetic field exerts a force on a current-carrying wire in a direction given by the right hand rule 1 (the same direction as that on the individual moving charges). This force can easily be large enough to move the wire, since typical currents consist of very large numbers of moving charges.

The maximum force on a current-carrying conductor occurs when the current direction and the magnetic field's direction are perpendicular to one another (i.e. ninety degree angle between directions). We can derive an expression for the maximum magnetic force on a current by taking a sum of the magnetic forces on individual charges. (The forces add because they are in the same direction.) The force on an individual charge moving at the drift velocity vd is given by F = q v d B . Taking B to be uniform over a length of wire l and zero elsewhere, the total magnetic force on the wire is then F = ( q v d B ) ( N ) , where N is the number of charge carriers in the section of wire of length l. Now, N = n V , where n is the number of charge carriers per unit volume and V is the volume of wire in the field. Noting that V = A l , where A is the cross-sectional area of the wire, then the force on the wire is F = ( q v d B ) ( n A l ) . Gathering terms,

F = ( n q A v d ) ( l B ) .

Because nqAv d = I size 12{ ital "nqAv" rSub { size 8{d} } =I} {} ,

F = I l B

is the equation for maximum magnetic force on a length l of wire carrying a current I in a uniform magnetic field B , as shown in [link] . If we divide both sides of this expression by l , we find that the magnetic force per unit length of wire in a uniform field is F l = I B . The direction of this force is given by RHR-1, with the thumb in the direction of the current I size 12{I} {} . Then, with the fingers in the direction of B size 12{B} {} , a perpendicular to the palm points in the direction of F size 12{F} {} , as in [link] .

Illustration of the right hand rule 1 showing the thumb pointing right in the direction of current I, the fingers pointing into the page with magnetic field B, and the force directed up, away from the palm.
The force on a current-carrying wire in a magnetic field is F = I l B . Its direction is given by RHR-1.

Calculating magnetic force on a current-carrying wire: a strong magnetic field

Calculate the force on the wire shown in [link] , given B = 1 . 50 T size 12{B=1 "." "50"" T"} {} , l = 5 . 00 cm size 12{l=5 "." "00"" cm"} {} , and I = 20 . 0 A size 12{I="20" "." 0 A} {} .

Strategy

The force can be found with the given information by using F = I l B because the angle between I and B is 90 ∘ .

Solution

Entering the given values into F = I l B yields

F = I l B = ( 20.0 A ) ( 0.0500 m ) ( 1.50 T ) .

The units for tesla are 1 T = N A ⋅ m size 12{"1 T"= { {N} over {A cdot m} } } {} ; thus,

F = 1 . 50 N. size 12{F=1 "." "50"" N"} {}

Discussion

This large magnetic field creates a significant force on a small length of wire.

Magnetic force on current-carrying conductors is used to convert electric energy to work. (Motors are a prime example—they employ loops of wire and are considered in the next section.) Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) is the technical name given to a clever application where magnetic force pumps fluids without moving mechanical parts. (See [link] .)

Diagram showing a cylinder of fluid of diameter l placed between the north and south poles of a magnet. The north pole is to the left. The south pole is to the right. The cylinder is oriented out of the page. The magnetic field is oriented toward the right, from the north to the south pole, and across the cylinder of fluid. A current-carrying wire runs through the fluid cylinder with current I oriented downward, perpendicular to the cylinder. Negative charges within the fluid have a velocity vector pointing up. Positive charges within the fluid have a velocity vector pointing downward. The force on the fluid is out of the page. An illustration of the right hand rule 1 shows the thumb pointing downward with the current, the fingers pointing to the right with B, and force F oriented out of the page, away from the palm.
Magnetohydrodynamics. The magnetic force on the current passed through this fluid can be used as a nonmechanical pump.

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Source:  OpenStax, Concepts of physics. OpenStax CNX. Aug 25, 2015 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11738/1.5
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