ELECTRO

MAGNETISM

Introduction
We discussed point charges moving through magnetic fields
last class.
A common form of moving charge is when it travels through a
current-carrying conductor.
In common terms electrical wires.

How current carrying conductors

work
Lets take a voltage source like a battery
The ends of a conductor are attached to the
battery .
This causes an electric field to be set-up
inside the conductor which causes the free
electrons in the conductor to flow.
= Electron

V
I
In this wire the current is directed to the left.

Conventional Current Vs. Electron Flow

Conventional current: the flow of positive charge

Electron Flow: the actual direction and flow of electrons

Current in a conductor.
The current in a conductor is given the variable I
q
I= t
Charge per second which is measured in coulombs
Second
Whats the difference
between a coulomb and an
ohm?
One is cool! The other is
not.

Current in a conductor.
If we have a conductor in a magnetic field:
I

Then we can calculate the force the

conductor experiences due to the
magnetic field.
Each electron moves with a velocity
v through the conductor.

In a time of t the charge has moved

through a length L of the conductor.
Because there is moving charge in
the magnetic field the conductor
must experience a force!
F = qvBsin()

q
L

L=vt

Current in a conductor.
If we have a wire in a magnetic field:
F = qvBsin()

Multiply the top and bottom by t

F = qvBsin()t
t
q
t

F = (vt)Bsin()

B
Recall:
vt = L
q/t = I

F = ILB sin()

Current in a conductor.
F = ILB sin()
F = Force on the conductor (N)
I = Current in the conductor ( A)
L = Length of the conductor (M)
B = Magnetic field strength (T)
= Angle between the
conductor and B

Dont
forget
the
direction

Direction of the force

I

F
I

F
-q

B
B

We still use the right hand rule.

Remember if we are dealing with electrons we use the back of our hand to
determine the direction of the force.

Example.
If we have a wire of length 0.10 meters with a current of 15
amps flowing to the right through a region of space with a
magnetic field of strength 0.60 Tesla into the page
(perpendicular to the wire)
a) Find the force exerted on the wire.
I
b) What is the force on the
wire when the wire is angled
at 30 from the magnetic
field?

c) What is the force on the

wire when the wire is parallel
with the magnetic field?

Example.
If we have a wire of length 0.25 meters with a current of 7 amps
flowing to the right through a region of space with a magnetic
field of strength 0.50 Tesla out of the page (perpendicular to
the wire)
a) Find the force exerted on the wire.

b) What is the force on the

wire when the wire is angled
at 60 from the magnetic
field?
c) What is the force on the
wire when the wire is parallel
with the magnetic field?

EXAMPLE.
What is the direction of
the force felt on the wire?

Example.
If we have a wire of length 3.2 meters with an unknown current
running through a region of space with a magnetic field of
strength 0.70 Tesla out of the page (perpendicular to the wire).
The wire experiences a force of 1.2 N to the left.
Find the current in the wire.

Example.
N

If we have a wire with an 15 A current running through a 10cm

wide region of space with a magnetic field of unknown strength
and the wire experiences a force of 1.5 N away from the
magnet
Find the magnetic field strength.

Example.
Given the Diagram, what direction will the wire feel a force?

wire

Homework
Homework assignment 2