A 30-cm long wire with an east-west orientation carries a current of 3.0 A eastward. There is a uniform magnetic field perpendicular to this wire. If the force on the wire is 0.18 N upward, what are the direction and magnitude of the magnetic field?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The force on the wire is given by the formula F = BIL sinθ, where B is the magnetic field, I is the current, L is the length of the wire, and θ is the angle between the wire and the magnetic field. In this case, θ = 90° because the magnetic field is perpendicular to the wire. So, we have:

0.18 N = B(3.0 A)(0.30 m) sin 90°

Solving for B, we get:

B = 0.20 T north

A 30-Cm Long Wire with an East-West Orientation Carries a Current