Previous

Problem :

A wire of length 10 cm carries a current of 5 esu/s parallel to a magnetic field of 10 gauss. What is the magnitude of the force on the wire?

Since the moving charges (in the wire) are moving parallel to the magnetic field, no net force acts on the wire.

Problem :

A wire of length 10 cm carries a current of 3×104 esu/s perpendicular to a magnetic field of 10 gauss. What is the magnitude of the force on the wire?

Now the charges are moving perpendicular to the magnetic field, and the force on the wire is given by our equation F = = = 1×10-4 dynes. This small value shows how small the effect of magnetic fields are in practical situations, and why the relation between magnetic fields and current went undetected for such a long time.

Problem :

A wire in the shape of a square with sides 5 cm carries a current of 1 amp, or 3×109 esu/sec in a plane parallel to a magnetic field of 100 gauss, as shown below. What is the net force on the wire? What is the net torque?

A uniform magnetic field acting on a loop of wire

To find the force on the wire we must look at each part of the wire individually. There are four sections: each side of the square. The current in two sections moves parallel or antiparallel to the magnetic field, and thus experience no force. The other two sections have a current perpendicular to the magnetic field, and each segment experiences a force of F = = = 50 dynes. However, because the current flows in opposite directions, the forces are in opposite directions and there is no net force on the wire.

What about torque, though? If we designate an axis of rotation through the wire, as shown below, both forces act to rotate the wire in the same direction.

The wire, shown with its axis of rotation and the forces acting on the wire
Each force acts at a distance of 2.5 centimeters from the axis of rotation, and perpendicular to the radial direction, so the contribution to the torque from each force is: τ = Fr = (50)(2.5) = 125. Since they act to rotate the wire in the same direction, the total torque on the wire is simply 250 dyne-cm.

Problem :

In CGS units, F = . What does this equation convert to in SI units?

Clearly the same physical quantities of q, v, and B must be involved, but the factor of 1/c might be changed. Consider a particle of 1 coulumb (3×109 esu) traveling at a speed of 1 m/s (100cm/s) in a uniform field of 1 Tesla (10000 gauss). Using the formula we know (CGS units), the force in this situation is:

F = = 105 dynes

We also know, however, that 105 dynes is equivalent to 1 Newton. Thus, since a charge of 1 C, moving at 1 m/s in a field of 1 Tesla causes a force of 1 Newton, it is clear that the 1/c proportionality constant simply disappears, and we are left with the equation

F = qvB    

Previous section

Take a Study Break