Magnetic Forces on Electric Currents



" The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. But the opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth."
Niels Bohr
eleccurrent eqn2

Considering the magnetic force on a single charge (e) we find
magforcecurrent

Now the total force on a wire comprised of (nAl) charge carriers each with charge e is given by

magforcecurrenteqn2

Defining a vector l along the wire in the same direction as J and using |JA| = i (electric current) we find for the total force on the wire

magforcecurrenteqn3

magforcecurrentfig1                         magforcecurrentfig2

exclamation  Note that for a given current negative and positive charge carriers move in opposite directions.  This leads to  a force on the wire in the same direction (see above), whether the charge carriers are positive or negative.

When chemists die, they barium.
 


 
 

Dr. C. L. Davis
Physics Department
University of Louisville
email: c.l.davis@louisville.edu