Magnetic Field Due to Current Carrying Conductor

Table of Contents

Introduction

  • A Magnetic field is generally interpreted as a region where the force of magnetism acts. 
  • This force of magnetism is generally produced due to a moving charge or magnetic material. 
  • The origin of this interpretation dates back to the 19th century. 
  • During the early years of the 19th century, a scientist named H. C. Oersted discovered that a current-carrying conductor produces a magnetic effect around it. 
  • Although science and technology were not as developed as they are today, based on observations, it was already known that the effect of lightning and striking a ship caused the malfunctioning of compass needles, disrupting the navigation system. 
  • People then knew that lightning was a form of electricity and also the fact that the working of a compass is based on the earth’s magnetic field. 
  • This suggested a relationship between the two, the moving electric charge (current) and the magnetic field.

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Magnetic Field Due to Current Carrying Conductor

Current is generally defined as the rate of flow of charge. We already know that stationary charges produce an electric field proportional to the charge’s magnitude. The same principle can be applied here. Moving charges produce magnetic fields which are proportional to the current, and hence a current carrying conductor produces a magnetic effect around it. This magnetic field is generally attributed to the sub-atomic particles in the conductor, for e.g. the moving electrons in the atomic orbitals.

A magnetic field has both magnitude and direction. Hence, it is a vector quantity denoted by B (in the diagram below). The magnetic field due to a current-carrying conductor depends on the conductor’s current and the distance from the point. The direction of the magnetic field is perpendicular to the wire. If you wrap your right hand’s fingers around the wire with your thumb pointing in the direction of the current, then the direction in which the fingers would curl will give the direction of the magnetic field. This will be clearer with the diagram below, where the red lines represent the magnetic field lines.

Magnetic Field

The Video About Magnetic Field Due to Cylindrical Wire

Characteristics of Magnetic Field Due to Current Carrying Conductor

The magnetic field produced due to a current-carrying conductor has the following characteristics:

  • It encircles the conductor.
  • It lies in a plane perpendicular to the conductor.
  • Reversal in the current flow direction reverses the field’s direction.
  • Strength of the field is directly proportional to the magnitude of the current.
  • Strength of the field at any point is inversely proportional to the distance of the point from the wire.

It’s difficult to comprehend the role of magnetism in our lives as we can’t see them. Take a look around, and realising its importance will not be as difficult. The motors that are used so extensively around the world, whether it’s toy cars or bullet trains or aircraft or spaceships, all use the same magnetic effect.

Accelerate Your JEE Main & Advanced Exam Preparation by
Watching this Video about Magnetism and Force on Dielectric in Charged Capacitor



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Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

Q1

What is a magnetic field?

A magnetic field is a physical field that is a projection of magnetic influence on travelling charges, magnetic materials and electric currents.
Q2

What is an electric current?

An electric current is a flow of charged particles (ions or electrons) travelling through an electrical conductor or space. It is calculated as the flow rate of electric charges through a conducting material or space.
Q3

What is an electrical conductor?

In physics, an electrical conductor is a body that allows the flow of charges or ions in one or more directions. Electrical conductors are typically made of metals.
Q4

What are the main characteristics of the magnetic field due to the current-carrying conductor?

It encircles the conductor. It exists in a plane perpendicular to the electrical conductor. The reversal in the current’s direction flow reverses the direction of the field. The strength of the field is directly proportional to the value of the current. The strength of the field at any point is inversely proportional to the distance of the point from the wire.
Q5

Give a few examples of electrical conductors.

Copper, aluminium, silver, gold, mercury, steel, and iron are the few main examples of electrical conductors.

Watch the video and solve the complete exemplar in the chapter Magnetic Effects of Electric Current Class 10

To learn more about the magnetic field, quantitative measure of the magnetic field produced due to current carrying conductor, watch the videos at “BYJU’S – The Learning App”.

Test your Knowledge on Magnetic Field Current Conductor

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  1. Hello, my question is this – Why change in magnetic field creates electric field and change in electric field create magnetic field?

    • Maxwell’s set of equations can answer this question. You can read about it here.
      The first two equations talk about the changing magnetic and electric fields.

  2. how do i know what side of the conductor would be north?

    • In a current-carrying conductor, the north pole is determined by the help of “Maxwell’s corkscrew rule”. According to the rule, when the right-handed corkscrew is held coincident with the current-carrying conductor, the direction in which the thumb is rotated gives the direction of the magnetic field lines. Therefore, the north pole in a conductor is determined by observing the rotation of thumb.

  3. Excellent Explanation.

  4. if a magnetic field is normal to a current carrying conductor, how will you find the direction of the force acting on the conductor?

  5. If a magnetic field is normal to a current-carrying conductor, how will you find the direction of the force acting on the conductor from the north or south pole?

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