A student wants to use the Right Hand Thumb Rule to determine the direction of the magnetic field around a current-carrying straight conductor. Which of the following steps is essential in applying the rule correctly?
Point the thumb in the direction of current
The Right Hand Thumb Rule: hold the current-carrying straight conductor in the right hand so that the thumb points in the direction of the current.
The direction in which the fingers curl around the conductor then gives the direction of the magnetic field lines.
So the thumb must be aligned with the current, not with the magnetic field, and the right hand (not the left) is used; the fingers wrap around the conductor, not along it.
Hence, the answer is Point the thumb in the direction of current.
Similar Questions
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Important Questions from Magnetism
What is the direction of magnetic field lines outside a magnet?
Which of the following statement is correct?
।. Magnetic field has both magnitude and direction.
II. The magnetic field inside a current-carrying straight long solenoid is the same at all points.
The magnetic effect of electric current was discovered by _____.
The important property of magnet which was exploited by navigators and travelers from the ancient times is:
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____.
