A student places a compass near a straight, current-carrying conductor and observes the needle deflect. What does this observation indicate about the region around the conductor?
There is a magnetic field present around the conductor
A compass needle is a small permanent magnet that is free to rotate, so it turns only when a magnetic force acts on it.
Its deflection near the wire is therefore evidence that the current has set up a magnetic field in the space around the conductor — Oersted's observation, with the field lines forming concentric circles about the wire.
Heating of the wire would not turn a magnet, and a static electric field or gravity would act on charges or masses, not on a magnetised needle.
Hence, the answer is There is a magnetic field present around the conductor.
Similar Questions
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Important Questions from Magnetism
The magnet used to lift and transport heavy loads like big metals, steel girders and scrap iron objects for loading and unloading purposes is known as____.
A suspended bar magnet is rotated. It will come to rest in the north-south direction. This shows that the earth has its own_______.
When a bar magnet is cut into two equal parts, then:
Consider the following statements about a magnetic field.
(i) A magnetic field has both magnitude and direction.
(ii) The direction of magnetic field lines inside a bar magnet is from its south pole to its north pole.
(iii) Magnetic field lines are closed curves.
Select the correct option.
What will happen if a collection of positive and negative charges are passed at a high speed through a magnetic field which is perpendicular to the direction of motion of the charges? (Assume that both kind of charges are NOT going to recombine)
