Question

A compass needle is placed near a current carrying wire. State your observations for the following cases and give reasons for the same in each case -

1. Magnitude of electric current in wire is increased.
2. The compass needle is displaced away from the wire.

Answer 1

1. The deflection in the compass needle increases as Magnetic field of the current carrying conductor is directly proportional to current flowing through it.
2. The deflection in the needle decreases as the magnetic field is inversely proportional to the perpendicular distance from the wire.