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7: Force on a Current in a Magnetic Field

  • Page ID
    5458
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    • 7.1: Introduction
      In Chapter 6 we showed that when an electric current is situated in an external magnetic field it experiences a force at right angles to both the current and the field. Indeed we used this to define both the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field. The magnetic field is defined in magnitude and direction.
    • 7.2: Force Between Two Current-carrying Wires
      This page explains the interaction between two parallel currents, \(I_1\) and \(I_2\), separated by distance \(r\). It describes how the magnetic field from \(I_1\) affects \(I_2\), creating a downward magnetic field and an attractive force to the left, quantified as \(F' = \frac{\mu I_1 I_2}{2\pi r}\). It also states that \(I_1\) experiences an equal force to the right due to \(I_2\)'s magnetic field, illustrating Newton's third law regarding action and reaction between the currents.
    • 7.3: The Permeability of Free Space
      This page explains the force per unit length between two parallel wires with one ampere of current, quantified as \(\mu_0/(2 \pi)\) N/m in a vacuum. It defines the amp to produce a force of \(2 \times 10^{-7} \, \text{N m}^{-1}\), leading to the established permeability of free space (\(\mu_0\)) as \(4\pi \times 10^{-7} \, \text{T m A}^{-1}\). Additionally, it discusses a proposal for redefining the coulomb, which could influence the future value of \(\mu_0\).
    • 7.4: Magnetic Moment
      If a compass needle, or indeed any bar magnet, is placed in an external magnetic field, it experiences a torque – the one exception being if the needle is placed exactly along the direction of the field. The torque is greatest when the needle is oriented at right angles to the field.
    • 7.5: Magnetic Moment of a Plane, Current-carrying Coil
      This page discusses how a current-carrying coil behaves like a bar magnet in an external magnetic field, experiencing torque. The magnetic moment is defined as \(NIA\) (number of turns, current, area), and maximum torque occurs when the coil's normal is perpendicular to the field. The torque is expressed as \(\tau = \mathbf{p}_m \times \mathbf{B}\).
    • 7.6: Period of Oscillation of a Magnet or a Coil in an External Magnetic Field
    • 7.7: Potential Energy of a Magnet or a Coil in a Magnetic Field
    • 7.8: Moving-coil Ammeter
      This page explains a coil setup in a magnetic field, enhanced by an iron cylinder for a linear current-deflection relationship. It reveals that the coil experiences torque proportional to \(NABI\), countered by the spring's torsion constant \(c\) and deflection angle \(\theta\).
    • 7.9: Magnetogyric Ratio
      The magnetic moment and the angular momentum are both important properties of subatomic particles. Each of them, however, depends on the angular speed of rotation of the particle. The ratio of magnetic moment to angular momentum, on the other hand, is independent of the speed of rotation, and tells us something about how the mass and charge are distributed within the particle. This ratio is called the magnetogyric ratio.


    This page titled 7: Force on a Current in a Magnetic Field is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Jeremy Tatum via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.