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Magnetic Effects of Current
Magnetic Field around a Current Carrying Conductor
A current carrying conductor has a magnetic field around it. The direction of the field can be
shown with the help of the Right Hand Grip rule [Thumb points in direction of current while
the fingers indicate the direction of the field around the conductor].
The strength of the field can be increased by coiling the conductor. A coiled conductor is
called a solenoid. The strength of the magnetic field around a solenoid can be increased by
1. Increasing the number of turns
2. increasing the current
3. Inserting a soft magnetic material into the coil to form an electromagnet.
Magnetic field around single current carrying conductors.
Magnetic field around parallel conductors carrying current in same direction
Conductors carrying current in the same direction attract each other. The region labelled X
represents the neutral point. At this point the net field is ZERO because the two magnetic
fields cancel each other out.
Magnetic field around parallel conductors carrying current in opposite directions
Parallel conductors carrying current in opposite directions repel each other. This is because
the field between the two conductors add up.
PHYSICS NOTES; Magnetic Effects of Current & Motor Effect leemok productions 2012©
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The Motor Effect
Current carrying conductor in a magnetic field.
A current carrying conductor experiences a force in a magnetic field. The direction of the
force can be determined with the help of Fleming’s left hand rule;
First finger – direction of field
Second finger – direction of current
Thumb – direction of the motion.
In the diagram below the conductor will move as indicated. The fields above the conductor
add up while the fields beneath the conductor cancel each other out. Consequently there is a
resultant motion of the conductor towards the side where the field is weaker.
In the diagram below the conductor will move as indicated. The fields above the conductor
cancel out each other up while the fields beneath the conductor add up. Consequently there is
a resultant motion of the conductor towards the side where the field is weaker.
Reversing the field or the current also causes the direction of motion to change.
Simple DC Motor
A simple DC motor consists of a rectangular coil abcd as shown above. The coil is mounted
on an axle between the poles of a magnet. When current passes through the coil it
experiences a turning effect about the axle. The direction of rotation can be determined using
Fleming’s Left Hand rule.
PHYSICS NOTES; Magnetic Effects of Current & Motor Effect leemok productions 2012©
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The turning effect of the coil can be increased by
1. increasing the number of turns in the coil
2. increasing the current
3. inserting a soft magnetic material in the coil.
In the diagram above the split-ring commutator ensures that the side of the coil that is next to
the north pole is always in contact with the positive brush, while the side of the coil next to
the south pole is always connected to the negative brush. This ensures that rotation is always
in the same direction.
Practical electric motors are used to provide kinetic energy for different purposes including
domestic and industrial. Such motors are different from the simple dc motors in that
the magnetic field in which the coil spins is provided by an electromagnets instead of
a permanent magnet.
Several coils are used in one motor
The coils have multiple turns
They use alternating current.
Moving Coil Loudspeakers.
It consists of coil which is attached to a paper cone. The coil is inserted in a pot magnet.
Varying currents from an amplifier pass through the coil, which causes a force to act on the
coil. The direction of this force can be determined using Fleming’s Left Hand Rule.
Since the current to the speaker is alternating the coil experiences a to and fro movement
within the pot. This causes the vibrations in the paper cone thus producing sound.
Microphones
A microphone works like a loudspeaker in reverse. Thus it operates like a simple ac
generator. The paper cone picks up sound waves from the air which cause the paper cone to
vibrate and as such causes the coil to move in and out of the pot magnet. This results in a
small alternating current to be induced in the coil.
PHYSICS NOTES; Magnetic Effects of Current & Motor Effect leemok productions 2012©
