Question

With the help of a labelled circuit diagram, describe an activity to illustrate the pattern of the magnetic field lines around a straight current carrying long conducting wire.
(a) Name the rule that is used to find the direction of magnetic field associated with a current carrying conductor.
(b) Is there a similar magnetic field produced around a thin beam of moving (i) alpha particles, and (ii) neutrons? Justify your answer.

Answer 1

(a) The direction of the magnetic field associated with a current carrying conductor is determined by the Right-hand thumb rule. According to this rule if we point our thumb in the direction of current then the direction of the fold of our fingers give the direction of the magnetic field around the conductor.

(b) The reason for the magnetic field around a current carrying conductor is the motion of the charged particles or electron inside the conductor.

(i) As alpha particles are positively charged so their movement will also produce a magnetic field.

(ii) Neutrons do not carry any charge so their motion will not produce any kind of magnetic field.