A wire is carrying current vertically downward. What is the direction of the force due to Earth's magnetic field on the wire?
A) horizontally towards the north
B) horizontally towards the south
C) horizontally towards the east
D) horizontally towards the west
E) vertically upward

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the right-hand rule, when a current-carrying wire is placed in a magnetic field, the force acting on the wire is perpendicular to both the magnetic field and the direction of the current. Here, the current is vertically downward, and the Earth's magnetic field is in the north-south direction. So, the force on the wire would be horizontal and towards the east. Therefore, the correct choice is C- horizontally towards the east.

A Wire Is Carrying Current Vertically Downward