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A long, straight, horizontal wire carries current toward the east. A proton moves toward the east alongside and just south of the wire. What is the direction of the magnetic force on the proton?

User Tmuguet
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Final answer:

The direction of the magnetic force on a proton moving alongside and just south of a wire carrying current towards the east would be upward, perpendicular to the current and motion of the proton.

Step-by-step explanation:

The direction of the magnetic force on a proton moving alongside and just south of a long, straight, horizontal wire carrying current towards the east would be in the upward direction, perpendicular to both the direction of the current and the direction of the proton's motion.

This is determined by using the right-hand rule for magnetic force. By pointing the thumb of your right hand in the direction of the positive charge's motion (in this case, towards the east), the fingers will curl in the clockwise direction, indicating the upward direction of the magnetic force.

User Cory Kendall
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