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Question

What happens to the needle of a compass kept nearby when electric current is switched on in a wire? Why does this happen?

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Solution

The needle of a magnetic compass shows deflection when kept nearby a wire carrying current as the wire behaves like a magnet.

The current flowing in the wire gives rise to a magnetic field around it which exerts a force on the compass needle (which itself is a tiny magnet) kept nearby and deflects it.


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