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Magnetism and Magnetic Fields

The motor effect and Fleming's left-hand rule

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 11 (Physics)

Overview

The force on a current-carrying wire in a magnetic field and the equal force on the magnet, how the angle to the field, the current and the field strength change the force, what reversing the current or field does, and Fleming's left-hand rule with worked directions.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

In Fleming's left-hand rule, what do the first finger, the second finger and the thumb each represent?

Key term

What is the motor effect?

Key term

Explain why a current-carrying wire placed in a magnetic field experiences a force.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What is the motor effect?

    Model answer

    The force felt by a current-carrying conductor placed in a magnetic field.

  2. 2

    Explain why a current-carrying wire placed in a magnetic field experiences a force.

    Model answer

    The field made by the current interacts with the field of the magnet, and the two fields together push the wire.

  3. 3

    A magnet pushes on a current-carrying wire. What force acts on the magnet?

    Model answer

    An equal and opposite force acts on the magnet.

  4. 4

    How must a wire be placed in a magnetic field for the force on it to be as large as possible?

    Model answer

    At right angles to the magnetic field lines.

  5. 5

    How big is the force on a current-carrying wire that lies along the magnetic field lines?

    Model answer

    There is no force on it at all.

  6. 6

    Give two ways of increasing the force on a current-carrying wire in a magnetic field.

    Model answer

    Increase the current in the wire, or use a stronger magnetic field.

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