Consider a straight current-carrying conductor placed in a region of uniform magnetic field of induction \(\vec B\) pointing out of the page, as shown in below figure by the evenly placed dots. Let the length of the conductor inside the field be l and the current in it be I.
In metallic conductors, electrons are the charge carriers. The direction of conventional current is, however, taken to be that of flow of positive charge which is opposite to the electron current.
Magnetic force on a current carrying conductor
Let dq be the positive charge passing through an element of the conductor of length dl in time dt.
\(\vec {dl}\) has the same direction as that of the current.
Then, I = \(\vec {dl}\)/dt………….. (1)
and drift velocity, \(\vec{v_d}\) = \(\vec {dl}\)/dt………….. (2)
The magnetic force on the charge dq is
The charge dq is constrained to remain within the conductor. Hence, the conductor itself experiences this force. The force on the entire part of the conductor within the region of the magnetic field is
In magnitude, F = Il B sin \(\theta\)....(4)
Where \(\theta\) is the smaller angle between \(\vec l\) and \(\vec B\).
Case 1 : When the conductor is parallel to the magnetic field, \(\vec l\)is parallel or antiparallel to \(\vec B\) according as the current is in the direction of \(\vec B\) or opposite to it; then θ = 0° or θ = 180°, so that sin θ = 0. Hence, in either of these two cases, F = 0.
Case 2 : The maximum value of the force is Fmax = IlB, when sin θ = 1, that is, when the conductor lies at right angles to \(\vec B\) (θ = 90°).
(i) For a current-carrying wire of arbitrary shape in a uniform field,
(ii) For a current-carrying conducting loop (closed circuit) in a uniform field,
But for a closed loop of arbitrary shape, the integral is zero.
∴ \(\vec F\) = 0
[Notes : (1) While the direction of \(\vec F\) can be found from the cross product of \(\vec l\) and \(\vec B\),
there is a handy rule due to Sir John Ambrose Fleming (1849-1945), British physicist and electrical engineer.
Fleming’s left hand rule : If the forefinger and the middle finger of the left hand are stretched out to point in the directions of the magnetic field and the current, respectively, then the outstretched thumb indicates the direction of the magnetic force on the current-carrying straight conductor, from below figure.]
Fleming's left hand rule
(2) Equation (3) is usually used to define the unit of magnetic field induction, the tesla. (3) B cannot be taken out of the integral in Eq. (6).]
