Question

A simple motor is made in a school laboratory. A coil of wire is mounted on an axle between the poles of a horseshoe magnet, as illustrated.

In the example above, coil ABCD is horizontal and the battery is connected as shown.

1. For this position, state the direction of the force on the arm AB.
2. Why does the current in the arm BC not contribute to the turning force on the coil?

Answer 1

1. downwards
2. Because BC is in the same direction as the direction of field lines. Force is minimum when the direction of current in the conductor is the same as that of the magnetic field. BC will not contribute as the force on this part of the coil will be cancelled by the force on DA.