Question

Jade has an iron rod around which she wraps copper wire. She places the device on a table near a compass. What will she observe about the compass if she sends current through the copper wire?

a. The needle of the compass will show no effect. b. The needle of the compass will point toward the device.
c. The needle of the compass will stop working.
d. The needle of the compass will spin in circles.

Answer 1

The compass needle will deflect and align itself tangent to a circle around the wire due to the magnetic field created by the electric current in the wire.

Step-by-step explanation:

If Jade sends current through the copper wire wrapped around an iron rod and places this device near a compass, she will observe that the needle of the compass will deflect and align itself tangent to the imaginary circle formed around the wire. This occurs because the electric current flowing through the wire creates a magnetic field perpendicular to the direction of the current. According to the right-hand rule, if Jade's thumb points in the direction of the current, her fingers will curl in the direction of the magnetic field, which will be circular loops around the wire.

The compass needle aligns with this magnetic field, essentially revealing the pattern of the field around the wire. Jade will observe that the needle of the compass will spin in circles if she sends current through the copper wire. This is because the electric field from the moving charges in the current interacts with the magnetic field of the compass needle, causing the needle to continuously deflect and spin in circles.