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While performing a classroom demonstration of the heating effect of electric current he discovered that a
magnetic compass needle got deflected when it was placed near an electric current carrying conductor.
The demonstration given below explains the nature of magnetic field due to a current carrying circular loop.
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Observation
Concentric circles are formed, which are
the remaining part of the wire is below centre of the loop is perpendicular to the
the cardboard
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Observation
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current
it increases
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coil increases
Inference
The direction of magnetic field changes when the direction of flow of current is reversed
The strength of the magnetic field at the centre of a circular coil carrying current is proportional to the
number of turns in the coil (n). As we increase the turns, the magnetic field strength also increases. As we go
away from the wire, the strength of the magnetic field decreases, and the concentric circles grow larger in
size
The strength of the magnetic field is inversely proportional to the radius of the circular coil i.e. the field
strength reduces as the radius of the coil increases
A pictorial representation that gives the direction of the magnetic field at various points in a magnetic
field is called a map of the magnetic field
Mark the ends of the needle. The tail end of the needle is the south pole and the tip of the needle is the
north pole
Now move the magnetic needle in such a way that its tail (south pole) always points towards the north
pole of the bar magnet
Repeat this until you reach the other end of the magnet
The curved line represents a magnetic field line or magnetic line of force
Repeat the above procedure and draw as many lines as you can
Outside the magnet the lines of force are directed from the south pole towards the south pole of the
magnet
But within the magnet the magnetic lines are directed from the south pole towards the north pole
A solenoid is a long coil (shaped like a cylinder) containing a large number of close turns of insulated copper
wire.
The figure above shows a solenoid SN whose ends are connected to a battery B through a switch X. When a
current is passed through a solenoid, it produces a magnetic field around it. The magnetic field is shown in the
fig. It is along the axis of the solenoid and is almost constant in magnitude and direction. The magnetic lines of
force inside the solenoid are nearly parallel to each other and parallel to the axis of the solenoid.
A solenoid when suspended freely, aligns itself in the north-south direction, thus behaving like a bar magnet. One
end of the solenoid acts like a north pole and the other end the south pole.
The polarity of the solenoid can be changed by reversing the direction of the current.
The strength of the magnetic field produced by a current carrying solenoid depends on:
The number of turns - larger the number of turns, greater is the magnetism produced
The strength of the current - when current increases, magnetism also increases
Nature of 'core-material' used in making the solenoid - if we use soft-iron as a core for the solenoid, then
it produces the strongest magnetism
Oersted's experiment shows that a current carrying wire exerts a force on a magnetic needle and
deflects it from its usual north-south position. The reverse must also be true, which was proved by the
French scientist Andre Marie Ampere, who suggested that a magnet must also exert an equal and
opposite force on the current carrying conductor. The above mentioned concept can be best understood
by way of a demonstration as explained below.
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Observation
displaced.
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reverse direction.
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reverse direction.
Inference
A current carrying conductor experiences a force when placed in a magnetic field. The direction of force
is reversed when the direction of current in the conductor is reversed.
The force acting on the current-carrying conductor can be changed by changing the direction of the
magnetic field.
Fleming's left hand rule helps us to predict the movement of a current carrying conductor placed in a
magnetic field.
According to this rule, extend the thumb, forefinger, and the middle finger of the left hand in such a way
that all the three are mutually perpendicular to each another. If the forefinger points in the direction of
the magnetic field and the middle finger in the direction of the current, then, the thumb points in the
Magnetic field is a region near a magnetised body where magnetic forces can be detected.
In a magnetic field, the magnetic dipole (Two equal and oppositely magnetised poles separated by a
distance is referred to as magnetic dipole) experiences a turning force, which tends to align it parallel to
the direction of the field.
Let us understand the concept of magnetic field with the help of an experiment.
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Observation
Inference
The iron filings align
drawing board. Place a bar due to the magnet and thus align
themselves in a
magnet at the centre of the themselves in a particular pattern.
particular pattern
sheet. Sprinkle some iron