Jumpstart

Before moving on, assess how much you know about this topic.
Answer the pretest on the next page in a separate sheet of paper.

I. MULTIPLE CHOICE. Read carefully each item. Write the letter of the best
answer for each item.

______1. Which of the following CANNOT produce a magnetic field?

A. Earth B. magnet
C. electric charge at rest D. electric charge at motion

______2. Jerome sprinkles iron filings on a piece of cardboard placed on top of a

bar magnet. Which configuration will the iron filings take?

N S N S

A. B.
.
D. S N
N S
B.

______3. Which compass is the needle pointing in the direction of the magnetic field
produced by the current flowing through the straight wire?

A. Compass 1 B. Compass 2 C. Compass 3 D. Compass 4

______4. What path does a charged particle travel when it moves parallel to the
direction of a magnetic field?
A. Circular B. Helical B. Hysteresis D. Straight
______5. How much current is flowing in a wire 5.0 m long if the maximum force on
it is 0.625 N when placed in a uniform 0.0900-T field?
A. 1.37 A B. 1.38 A C. 1.39 A D. 1.40 A
II. TRUE or FALSE: Write TRUE if the statement is correct; otherwise, write
FALSE.
______1. The force is maximum if the current is parallel to the field lines.
______2. A magnetic force is exerted only if the particle is moving.
______3. A magnetic force always exerts a force on a charged particle.
______4. The magnetic field of a current-carrying wire decreases inversely with the
distance from the wire.
______5. The force on the moving charge depends on the particle’s velocity.

III. JUSTIFY
Which of the illustrations below is an accurate representation of the magnetic field
of a bar magnet? Explain your answer.

a) b)

Discover

Magnetic Field
An electric field surrounds an electric charge, in the same way, a magnetic
field surrounds a magnet. A magnetic field is a region of space where a magnet is
capable of exerting force on a magnetic material.
Magnetic field is defined in terms of the force exerted on an electric charge
moving in the field. Mathematically it can be expressed as,
𝑭
𝑩=
𝒒𝒗 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽
Where: F = force, Newtons (N)
q = charge, Coulombs (C)
v = velocity of the charge, meter/second (m/s)
𝜃 = angle between v and B
B = magnetic field, newton/(coulomb meter/second) or newton/Ampere-
meter, Tesla (T)

A magnetic field also has a direction. The direction of the magnetic field at a
given location can be defined as the direction that the north pole of a compass needle
would point if placed at that location.
 Figure 1 Figure 2

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Magnetic field is composed of lines of force and these lines point from the
North pole to the South pole. Figure 1 demonstrates how thin iron filings (acting like
tiny magnets) show the magnetic field lines by lining up like the compass needles.
The magnetic field determined in this way for the field surrounding a bar magnet is
shown in Fig. 2, the lines always point out from the north pole and in toward the
south pole of a magnet (the north pole of a magnetic compass needle is attracted to
the south pole of the magnet). Magnetic field lines continue inside a magnet, as
indicated in Fig. 2, thus magnetic field lines always form closed “loops”.

Magnetic Fields Produce by an Electric Current

Hans Christian Oersted discovered that when a compass is placed near a wire,
the compass needle deflects if (and only if) the wire carries an electric current. He
then concluded that an electric current produces a magnetic field.

Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6

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A compass needle placed near a straight section of current-carrying wire

experiences a force, causing the needle to align tangent to a circle around the wire,
as shown in Figure 3. Thus, the magnetic field lines produced by a current in a
straight wire are in the form of circles with the wire at their center, Figures 4 and 5.
But how do we determine the direction they circulate?
The direction of the magnetic field produced by a current can be determine
from the Right-Hand Rule. Grasp the wire with your right hand so that your thumb
points in the direction of the conventional (positive) current I; then your fingers will
encircle the wire in the direction of the magnetic field B.
Magnetic Force on a Current-Carrying Wire and on a Moving
Charge
As shown by Oersted, current-carrying wire exerts a force on a magnet like a
compass needle. By Newton’s Third Law, the reverse can be true that a magnet can
exert a force on a current-carrying wire. This force F is proportional to the length L
of the wire, current I in the wire, magnetic field B and the angle 𝜃 between the current
and the magnetic field. Thus, the force on a wire carrying a current I with length l in
a uniform magnetic field B may be written in an equation as,
𝑭 = 𝑰𝒍𝑩𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽
Where: F = force, Newtons (N)
I = current, Ampere (A)
v = velocity of the charge, meter/second (m/s)
𝜃 = angle between v and B
B = magnetic field, newton/(coulomb meter/second) or newton/Ampere-
meter, Tesla (T)
When the current is perpendicular to the field lines (𝜃 = 90° 𝑎𝑛𝑑 sin 90° = 1),
the force is strongest. When the current is parallel to the magnetic field lines (𝜃 = 0°),
there is no force at all.
Since a current in a wire consists of moving electric charges, we expect that
freely moving charged particles q (not in a wire) with a velocity v would also
experience a force F when passing through a magnetic field. Suppose that a charge
covers distance L in time t.
Recall that particle of charge q pass by a given point in time t, constitute to
𝐼 = 𝑞/𝑡; then replacing 𝐿 by 𝑣𝑡 and I by q/t in the equation𝐹 = 𝐼𝐿𝐵𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃. The force on
moving charge can be expressed as.
𝑭 = 𝒒𝒗𝑩𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽
Where: F = force, Newtons (N)
q = charge, Coulombs (C)
v = velocity of the charge, meter/second (m/s)
𝜃 = angle between v and B
B = magnetic field, newton/(coulomb meter/second) or newton/Ampere-
meter, Tesla (T)
The angle between v and B determines the path of the charged particle. The
force is greatest when the angle is 90° and the particle moves in a circle. The particle
experienced no force at all and moves in a straight line when the angle is 0 or 180°.
If the angle is not 0, 90° or 180°, the particle moves in a helical path.
The magnetic force exerted on a current-carrying wire and on a moving charge
is perpendicular to the direction of the current I (or L) and magnetic field B, and to
the velocity v and magnetic field B.
The direction of the force is given by another Right-hand rule, as illustrated
on Figure 6. Orient your right hand until your outstretched fingers can point in the
direction of the conventional current I or velocity v, and when you bend your fingers
they point in the direction of the magnetic field lines, B. Then your outstretched
thumb will point in the direction of the force F on the wire.
Sample Problems for Magnetic force on a current-carrying wire
1. A wire carrying a steady (dc) 30-A current has a length l= 15 cm between the pole
faces of a magnet. The wire is at an angle 𝜃 = 60° to the field. The magnetic field is
approximately uniform at 0.90 T. Ignoring the field beyond the pole pieces. Determine
the magnitude and direction of the force on the wire.
Given:
𝐼 = 30 𝐴 𝑙 = 15 𝑐𝑚 = 0.15 𝑚 𝐵 = 0.90 𝑇 𝜃 = 60°
Find: F
Solution:
𝐹 = 𝐼𝑙𝐵𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
= (30 𝐴)(0.15 𝑚)(0.90 𝑇)(𝑠𝑖𝑛60°)
= 𝟑. 𝟓𝟏 𝑵
Using right-hand-rule-2 to find the direction of F, hold your right hand flat,
pointing your fingers in the direction of the current, then bend your fingers (maybe
needing to rotate your hand). Your thumb then points into the page, which is thus
the direction of the force F.

2. The force on a 0.80 m wire that is perpendicular to Earth’s magnetic field is 0.12
N. What is the current in the wire? Use 5 × 10−5 𝑇 for Earth’s magnetic field.
Given:
𝑙 = 0.80 𝑚 𝐵 = 5 × 10−5 𝑇 𝐹 = 0.12 𝑁
Find: 𝐼 =?
Solution:
𝐹 = 𝐼𝑙𝐵
𝐹 0.12 𝑁
𝐼= = −5 = 𝟑. 𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎𝟑 𝑨
𝑙𝐵 (0.80 𝑚)(5 × 10 𝑇)

3. The force acting on a wire that is at right angles to a 0.80-T magnetic field is 3.6
N. The current in the wire is 7.5 A. How long is the wire?
Given:
𝐼 = 7.5 𝐴 𝐵 = 0.80 𝑇 𝐹 = 3.6 𝑁
Find: 𝑙 =?
Solution:
𝐹 = 𝐼𝑙𝐵
𝐹 3.6 𝑁
𝑙= = = 𝟎. 𝟔𝟎 𝒎
𝐵𝐼 (0.80 𝑇)(7.5 𝐴)
Sample problems for Magnetic force on a moving charge

1. What is the force of an electron that moves with a speed of 106 𝑚/𝑠 perpendicular
to a magnetic field of 0.5 T. The charge of an electron is 1.6 × 10−19 𝐶.
Given:
𝑣 = 106 𝑚/𝑠 𝐵 = 0.5 𝑇 𝑞 = 1.6 × 10−19 𝐶
Find: F
Solution:
𝐹 = 𝑞𝑣𝐵
= (1.6 × 10−19 𝐶)(106 𝑚/𝑠)(0.5 𝑇)
= 𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟑 𝑵
Using the Right-hand rule, the direction of the force is outwards the paper.

2. A singly ionized particle (𝑞 = 1.60 × 10−19 𝐶) experiences a force of 4.1 × 10−13 𝑁 when
it travels at right angle through a 0.61-T magnetic field. What is the velocity of the
particle?
Given:
𝐹 = 4.1 × 10−13 𝑁 𝐵 = 0.61 𝑇 𝑞 = 1.60 × 10−19 𝐶
 Solution:
𝐹 = 𝑞𝑣𝐵
𝐹 4.1 × 10−13 𝑁
𝑣= =
𝑞𝐵 (. 60 × 10−19 𝐶)(0.61 𝑇)
= 𝟒. 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎𝟖 𝒎/𝒔
Summary of Right- hand Rules (RHR)

Physical Situation Example How to Orient Result

Right Hand
1. Magnetic field Wrap fingers Fingers curl in
produced by around wire with direction of B
current (RHR 1) thumb pointing in
direction of current
I

2. Magnetic force on Fingers first point Thumb points in

a current- straight along direction of force
carrying wire current I, then bend F
(RHR 2) along magnetic field
B

3. Magnetic force on Fingers point along Thumb points

a moving charge particle’s velocity v, in direction of
(RHR 3) then along B the force F

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 Explore

Magnetic field exists in a region of space if a moving charge

there experiences a force due to its motion.
Work on the following activities to master and strengthen the basic
concepts you have learned from this lesson.

General Direction. Solve the following problems systematically. Use another sheet of
paper for your solution.

Activity 1. Magnetic force on a current-carrying wire

1. A copper is placed in the center of an air
gap between two magnetic poles, as shown in the
figure. The field is confined to the gap and has a
strength of 1.6 T.
a. Determine the force on the wire when the
switch is open.
b. Determine the force on the wire when the
switch is closed.

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Problems
2. A 15 A current-carrying wire has a length of 27 cm in a magnetic field of
0.79 T. Find the force on the wire when it makes the following angles with
the magnetic field lines of
a. 90°
b. 45°
c. 180°
d. 0°

Activity 2. Magnetic force on a moving charge

1. A particle with the same charge as an electron experiences a force of

5.2 × 10−12 𝑁 and traveling at a speed of 4.21 × 107 𝑚/𝑠 at right angles to a
magnetic field.
a. How strong is the magnetic field?
b. What does its acceleration if its mass is 1.88 × 10−28 𝑘𝑔?
2. A force of 5.78 × 10−16 𝑁 acts on an unknown particle moving at an angle of
90° through a magnetic field. If the velocity of the particle is 5.65 × 104 𝑚/𝑠
and 3.20 × 10−2 𝑇 , how many elementary charges does it carry?