Question

A horizontal wire supports it weight in a 0.001T magnetic field, oriented orthogonally to the wire. This is due to current running from left to right in the wire. Calculate the current through this wire that will just support the weight of the wire (over the length of the wire). The length of the wire is 0.5 m, and the mass of the 0.5 m section is 50 g. [give your answer in units of Amps]

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

Force on a current carrying wire in a magnetic field

= B i L where B is magnetic field , i is current and L is length of the wire .

Putting in the given values in the question

force on a current carrying wire in a magnetic field = .001 T x i x .5 m

5 x 10⁻⁴ i N .

weight of the wire = .050 kg x 9.8 m/s²

= .49 N .

For equilibrium

5 x 10⁻⁴ i = .49

i = 980 A .