A horizontal wire of length 3.0 m carries a current of 6.0 A and is oriented so that the current direction is 50 $\degree$ S of W.The Earth's magnetic field is due north at this point and has a strength of 0.14 x 10^-4 T.What is the direction of the force on the wire?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the right hand rule, if you point your right thumb in the direction of the current and your fingers in the direction of the magnetic field, the resulting force will be perpendicular to both and will point toward your palm. Since the magnetic field is due north and the current is oriented 50 degrees south of west, the resulting force will point downward, toward the Earth's surface. Therefore, the correct answer is option B.

A Horizontal Wire of Length 3 °\degree° S of WThe Earth's Magnetic Field Is Due North at This Point

A Horizontal Wire of Length 3 $\degree$ S of WThe Earth's Magnetic Field Is Due North at This Point