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Question
Iron filings are sprinkled on a cardboard perpendicular to which a current carrying copper wire flows as shown.
What happens to a compass at the point P, if the current through the circuit is increased? (Ignore the magnetic field of the Earth.)
Iron filings are sprinkled on a cardboard perpendicular to which a current carrying copper wire flows as shown.
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Solution
The correct option is D The compass needle won't deflect
On increasing the electric current through the conductor (wire), the magnetic field strength produced at the point P increases. However, the direction of the magnetic field does not change. A magnetic compass shows only the direction of the magnetic field, and hence, its deflection is independent of the magnitude of the field. In simpler words, the compass would not deflect and keep pointing in the previous direction.
On increasing the electric current through the conductor (wire), the magnetic field strength produced at the point P increases. However, the direction of the magnetic field does not change. A magnetic compass shows only the direction of the magnetic field, and hence, its deflection is independent of the magnitude of the field. In simpler words, the compass would not deflect and keep pointing in the previous direction.