Final answer:
To find the current I in the circuit, Ohm's law is utilized, resulting in I = 12.0 V / 5.11 Ω, giving a total current of approximately 2.35 A.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the magnitude of the current in the circuit, we use Ohm's law, which states that the current I through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the voltage V across the two points and inversely proportional to the resistance R of the conductor. The formula is I = V/R. In the given problem, a voltage of 12.0 V is applied across a total circuit resistance Rtot of 5.11 Ω, thus the total current I can be calculated.
The student is presented with the equation F = ICB sin θ to find the magnitude of the force acting on a wire placed in a magnetic field. The length of the wire (l), the magnetic field strength (B), and the angle between the current and magnetic field direction (sin θ) are known. The current I is determined first to calculate the force. By applying Ohm's law, we find the current I = 12.0 V / 5.11 Ω, which results in a current of approximately 2.35 A.