Question

A counterclockwise current flows in a rectangular loop of wire in a uniform magnetic field. a) What is the direction of the force that acts on each side of the wire rectangle

Answer 1

Complete question:

A counterclockwise current flows in a rectangular loop of wire in a uniform magnetic field. a) What is the direction of the force that acts on each side of the wire rectangle

Check the image uploaded for the diagram of the current and field.

Answer:

The direction of the force that acts on each side of the wire rectangle is upward.

Step-by-step explanation:

From Fleming's left hand rule. when the thumb, the index finger and the middle finger are held mutually to each other, with the index finger pointing in the direction of the field, the middle finger pointing in the direction of the current, then the thumb will be pointing in the direction of the force.

Therefore, the direction of the force that acts on each side of the wire rectangle is upward.

check the image uploaded for the direction of the force.

Answer 2

Step-by-step explanation:

In a rectangular loop of wire, a counter-clockwise current flows in a uniform magnetic field pointing towards right.

There are four sides of the rectangular loop ab, bc, cd and da. Lets analyze each side.

Force on section ab:

The force is zero since the wire is parallel to magnetic field

Fab = 0

Force on section bc:

Fbc = BIL

Since the current I is moving upwards and magnetic field is to the right then force F points into the screen.

Force on section cd:

The force is zero since the wire is parallel to magnetic field

Fcd = 0

Force on section da:

Fda = -Fbc

Since the current I is moving upwards and magnetic field is to the right then force F points out of the screen.

The net force acting on the rectangular loop is

Fnet = Fab + Fbc + Fcd + Fda = 0

0 + Fbc + 0 + Fda = 0

Fda = -Fbc