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Magnetic Effect of A Current

The document discusses the magnetic effects of electric currents. It explains that a current-carrying wire produces a circular magnetic field around it and this field can be detected using a compass. It also describes how changing the current direction reverses the magnetic field direction. Maxwell's screw rule and the right-hand grip rule are introduced to determine magnetic field direction. The magnetic fields produced by solenoids and their properties are then covered. Applications like circuit breakers and magnetic relays that utilize these magnetic effects are also summarized.

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Faiq Irfan
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
55 views

Magnetic Effect of A Current

The document discusses the magnetic effects of electric currents. It explains that a current-carrying wire produces a circular magnetic field around it and this field can be detected using a compass. It also describes how changing the current direction reverses the magnetic field direction. Maxwell's screw rule and the right-hand grip rule are introduced to determine magnetic field direction. The magnetic fields produced by solenoids and their properties are then covered. Applications like circuit breakers and magnetic relays that utilize these magnetic effects are also summarized.

Uploaded by

Faiq Irfan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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TOPIC: MAGNETIC EFFECT OF A CURRENT

MAGNETIC FIELD DUE TO CURRENTS IN STRAIGHT WIRES:


Electromagnetism is the study of the magnetic effect of an electric current.
A current carrying straight wire produces a circular magnetic field around it.
A plotting compass can be used to trace the circular magnetic field lines with the compass needle showing the direction.

Take note: The direction of the magnetic field depends on the direction of the flow of current. (apply Maxwell’s Screw
Rule or Right Hand Grip Rule).
If the flow of current is reversed, then the direction of the magnetic field will also reverse.

Maxwell’s Screw Rule:


If the right handed screw is turned so that its forward movement is in the same direction as the flow of current, then its
direction of rotation indicates the direction of the magnetic field.

Right Hand Grip Rule:


Imaging gripping the straight wire with your RIGHT hand so that your thumb points in
the direction of the current. Then the fingers curl in the same direction as the
magnetic field lines.

Magnetic Field due to Currents in Solenoids:


When the current carrying straight wire is wound into a coil, the current is
seen flowing
upwards and then downwards.
We can see two magnetic fields with two opposite field directions by applying
Right-hand Grip Rule.
The side where the current flows upwards produces a magnetic field with an
anticlockwise direction.
When the current flows downwards, it produces a magnetic field with a
clockwise direction.
If we increase the number of turns on the coil, a solenoid is formed. The
magnetic field produced by the current in a solenoid is shown below.
The magnetic field pattern is similar to that of a bar magnet.
One end of the solenoid acts like a North pole and the other end a South Pole.
To know which end is the North pole or South pole.
a. Apply Right Hand Grip Rule: Imagine gripping the solenoid so that the four
fingers point in the same direction as the current flow. The end where the thumb is pointing is the North Pole.
OR
b. When viewed from any one end of the solenoid,
If the current flows in a clockwise direction, this end is the induced S-pole.
If the current flows in an anticlockwise direction, this end is the induced N-Pole.
The strength of the magnetic field produced in a solenoid can be increased by:
a. Increasing the size of the current.
b. Increasing the number of turns per unit length of the solenoid.
c. Placing a soft iron core inside the solenoid.

APPLICATIONS OF THE MAGNETIC EFFECT OF A CURRENT:


CURRENT BREAKER:
A circuit breaker is a device that cuts off electric current when the current exceeds a certain limit.
The circuit breaker uses the magnetic effect of electric current (i.e. the higher the current, the stronger the magnetic
strength) to operate.
When the flow of current is too high, the strong magnetic force of the solenoid will separate the contacts and break the
circuit.

MAGNET RELAY:
In a magnetic relay, there are two separate circuits. The first circuit uses an electromagnet. The second circuit, which can
only be switched on by the first circuit, is connected to an electrical device.

When the switch is closed, the current flows through the solenoid and the soft iron core is magnetised.
The soft iron armature is attracted by the electromagnet. The top end of the armature is raised and closes the contacts of
the second circuit.
The second circuit is complete and the electrical device is switched on.
The advantage of using a magnetic relay is that we can use a small current circuit to switch on a large current circuit.

FORCE ON A CURRENT-CARRYING CONDUCTOR:


A current carrying wire has a magnetic field around it. If we place this wire in another magnetic field (using strong
magnets), the two magnetic fields may interact, and produce a FORCE on the wire. This can be shown by the
experimental set-up displayed below:
When the power is switched on, the current carrying wire loop is seen moving upwards. When we reverse the direction of
the flow of current, the loop is seen moving downwards. There is a force acting on the wire segment inside the magnetic
field.

When the polarities of the magnets are reversed, the loop moves in reverse directions.

When we increase the current and / or magnetic field strength (using even stronger magnets), the loop will bend more.
The force acting on the wire is therefore proportional to the current and the magnetic field strength.
The direction of the current, the direction of the magnetic field and the direction of the force acting on the loop are
mutually perpendicular.
The direction of force can be determined by Fleming’s left hand rule which is also known as the Motor Rule.

Fleming’s Left Hand Rule (Motor Rule):


Place the forefinger, second finger and thumb of your LEFT HAND mutually at right angles. Then, if the forefinger points
in the direction of the magnetic field and the second finger in the direction of the current, the thumb will point in the
direction of the force or motion.

We can increase the force acting on the wire by:


a. Using a larger current
b. Using a stronger magnetic field,
c. Using a greater length of wire inside the magnetic field.
Force on a beam of Charged Particles:
A current is a flow of electrons (can also be positive electric charges) along the conducting wire.
When a beam of charged particles enters a magnetic field, it is deflected inside the magnetic field by the force acting on
the charged particles.
Fleming’s Left Hand Rule can be applied to determine the direction of deflection of the beam of charged particles.
When a beam of negative charged particles (electrons) enters the magnetic field:
The flow of negatively charged particles is opposite the direction of conventional current flow.
Applying Fleming’s Left Hand Rule: the beam is deflected downwards in a circular path.

When a beam of positive charged particles (protons) enters the magnetic field:
The flow of positively charged particles has the same direction as the conventional current flow.
Applying Fleming’s left Hand Rule: The beam is deflected upwards in a circular path.

Forces Between Two Parallel Current-Carrying Wires:


When two current-carrying wires are placed parallel to each other, two situations will arise:
The parallel wires with currents flowing in the SAME directions cause ATTRACTION.

Two parallel wires with currents flowing in the OPPOSITE directions cause
REPULSION.

D.C. MOTOR:
Turning Effect on a Current Carrying Coil ( working principle of a d.c. motor)
When a current carrying rectangular coil is placed in a permamnent magnetic field, a couple of forces act on the
coil and produces a turning effect and the coil rotates clockwise or anti-clockwise.
This turning effect of the current-carrying coil can be increased by:
Increasing the current:
Increasing the magnetic field strength:
Increasing the number of turns of the coil and
Inserting a soft iron core within the coil to concentrate the magnetic field lines.

WORKING OF A D.C. MOTOR:


A simple direct current electric motor (d.c. motor) consists of;
Two permanent magnets with circular poles (N and S).
A coil (ABCD) connected to a split-ring commutator (X and Y are not in contract) and
Two carbon brushes (P and Q ) connected to an external battery.
The commutator (XY) will rotate when the coil rotates. The two carbon brushes are made to press lightly against the
commutator (to have contact) so that the current can pass through.
The following figures show how the coil is set into motion when current flows through it.
When current flows from A to B and C to D through the coil, arm AB experiences a downward force and arm CD
experiences an upward force.
These forces produce a turning effect and cause the coil to rotate in a clockwise direction.

When the coil turns to the vertical 90 o position, the split ends of the commutator are now in alignment with the
carbon brushes. The contact is broken and the current is cut off temporarily.

However, because of its inertia, the coil will keep rotating. So arms AB and CD cross over to the other half of the
magnetic field without experiencing any turning effect generated by the current until the commutator is in contact with the
carbon brushes again.
Once the commutator and the carbon brushes are in contact again, the current is able to flow in the same
direction, now from D to C and B to A. So arm DC experiences a downward force and arm BA
experiences an upward force.
Hence, the coil continues to rotate in a clockwise direction.
PURPOSE OF SPLIT RING:-
The purpose of using the split-ring commutator is, to reverse the direction of current in the coil after every half turn
so that the coil can rotate continuously in the same direction.
Ways to increase the speed of rotation:
There are four ways to increase the rotating speed of the d.c. motor:
a. By increasing the current;
b. By increasing the magnetic field strength;
c. By increasing the number of turns of the coil and
d. By placing a soft iron core into the coil.

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