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
The direction of the magnetic field at the centre of a current-carrying circular loop is determined by which of the following?
A single-turn coil of radius R produces a magnetic field B at its centre. If the same wire is wound into a coil of n turns (each of radius R/n) carrying the same current I, what will be the value of the new field at the centre?
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?
In Fleming's Left Hand Rule, which finger represents the direction of the magnetic field?
An experiment uses a compass near a straight current-carrying wire. What does the compass needle indicate?
What does a higher degree of closeness of magnetic field lines indicate?
A device uses the principle of magnetic fields around a current-carrying conductor to convert electrical energy to mechanical energy. Which device operates on this principle?
What happens when a conductor moves through a magnetic field?
Why are magnetic field lines due to current in a straight conductor denser near the wire and farther apart as distance increases?
A technician reverses the direction of current in a conductor placed in a magnetic field. According to Fleming's Left Hand Rule, what will happen to the direction of force on the conductor?
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)
