Question

Draw a sketch and explain the experiment showing the magnetic lines of force due to a current-carrying straight conductor.

Answer 1

Experiment:

• Take a thick copper wire \(XY\) and pass it vertically through a hole in the middle of a horizontal cardboard sheet.
• Connect the ends of the wire to a battery, ammeter, rheostat, and a plug key.
• Sprinkle some iron filings uniformly on the cardboard sheet around the wire.
• Close the key to pass current through the wire and gently tap the cardboard sheet a few times.

Observations:

• The iron filings arrange themselves in concentric circles around the wire.
• This proves that the magnetic lines of force due to a straight current-carrying conductor are circular in nature, with their centers lying on the wire.