Final answer:
The force on a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field is indeed true due to the interaction between the magnetic field generated by the current and the external magnetic field. The right hand rule helps determine the direction of both fields and the resultant force, supporting the described interaction. Option B is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the force acting on a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field is due to the interaction between the magnetic field produced by the current-carrying conductor and the external magnetic field in which the conductor is placed is true.
When electric current flows through a conductor, it generates a magnetic field around it. This field then interacts with an external magnetic field, causing the conductor to experience a force. The right hand rule can be used to determine the direction of the magnetic field around the conductor as well as the direction of the force acting on it.
By applying the right hand rule, we see that if the thumb of your right hand points in the direction of the current, the curl of your fingers shows the direction of the magnetic field around the wire. Additionally, the force on the wire is calculated by the equation F = I x B, where ‘I’ is the current and ‘B’ is the magnetic field strength.
The magnetic field resulting from the movement of electrons also causes a phenomenon known as the Hall effect, where a voltage is created across the width of the conductor due to the separation of charges. This provides further evidence of the magnetic field's presence and interaction with a current-carrying conductor.