MAGNETIC FORCE ON A CURRENT-CARRYING CONDUCTOR

(AMPER FORCE)

If an aluminium rod is suspended horizontally between the poles

of a magnet (picture 1), and current is passed through the wire,
then the aluminium rod is displaced. If the direction of current is
reversed then the direction of dispalcement is also reversed.
The force exerted by the magnetic field on the current-
carrying conductor is called magnetic force (Amper force).

picture 1

Where 𝐹Ԧ𝐴 is the Amper force vector, 𝑙Ԧ is a length vector with a

The Amper force is Ԧ
𝐹Ԧ𝐴 = I𝑙𝑥𝐵 magnitude l and directed along the direction of the electric
given by equation:
current, and 𝐵 is the magnetic field vector.
 The direction of the force can be determined by left hand rule
(picture 2).
The fore fingers shows the direction of the electric current,
magnetic field lines passes throught open slape of left hand and
the thumb shows the direction of the Amper force.

picture 2
The implications of this expression include:
♦ The Amper force is perpendicular to both the conductor l directed along the direction of the electric current and
the magnetic field B.
♦ The magnitude of the Amper force is 𝑭𝑨 = 𝑰𝒍𝑩𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽 where θ is the angle < 180 degrees between the
conductor L and the magnetic field B. This implies that the Amper force is zero if the conductor is placed parallel
to the magnetic field and force is maximum when the conductor is placed at right angle to a magnetic field.
The strength of magnetic field is 1 T,
It follows from
when a conductor carrying a current
the equation 𝐹 𝑁
𝐵= 1𝑇 = 1 of 1 A placed at right angles to the
𝐹 = 𝐼𝑙𝐵 for 𝐼𝑙 𝐴𝑚 magnetic field experiences a force of
B that:
1 N per metre of its length.
 MAGNETIC FORCE BETWEEN TWO PARALLEL CONDUCTORS
Because a conductor carrying a current creates a magnetic field around itself, it is easy to understand that two
current-carrying wires placed close together exert magnetic forces on each other.
Consider two long, straight, parallel conductors separated by the distance r
and carrying currents 𝐼1 and 𝐼2 in the same direction, as shown in picture
3. We are finding the force on conductor 2 due to the magnetic field of
conductor 1. The current 𝐼1 sets up magnetic field 𝐵1 at conductor 2. The
direction of 𝐵1 is perpendicular to the conductor. We find that the
magnitude of this magnetic field is
𝐼1
𝐵1 = 𝜇0
2𝜋𝑟
The magnitude of the magnetic
𝐼1 𝐼2
force on conductor 2 in the 𝐹2 = 𝐼2 𝑙𝐵1 = 𝜇0 𝑙
2𝜋𝑟
presence of field 𝐵1 due to 𝐼1 is:

picture 3
The direction of 𝐹Ԧ2 is toward conductor 1, as indicated by left-hand rule. This calculation is completely symmetric,
which means that the force 𝐹Ԧ1 on conductor 2 is equal to and opposite 𝐹Ԧ2 , as expected from Newton’s third law of
action–reaction.
The force between two parallel currents I1 and I2 separated 𝐹 𝐼1 𝐼2
by a distance r, has a magnitude per unit length given by: = 𝜇0
𝑙 2𝜋𝑟

Picture 4:
The force is attractive
if the currents are in
the same direction
and repulsive if they
are in opposite
directions
picture 4

The force between two parallel conductors If two long, parallel conductors 1 m apart carry the same
carrying a current is used to define the SI current and the magnetic force per unit length on each
unit of current, the ampere (A), as follows: wire is 𝟐 ∙ 𝟏𝟎−𝟕 𝑵Τ𝒎, the current is defined to be 1 A.
 PROBLEMS

1. A 0,8m long straight conductor moves in a magnetic field of induction 50mT. The current in the conductor is
15A. The conductor is at an angle 30º with the magnetic induction vector. Find the magnitude of Amper force
acting on the conductor?

2. A square frame with side a and a long straight wire (throught the wire and frame flows I=10A currents) are
located in the same plane as shown in the picture. Find the resultant Amper force acting on the frame?

I
I a
a
a
3. A long bent conducting wire is placed as shown in the figure. An MN wire is connected to it (that wire)
through sliding contacts. What is the current intensity if the wire stands at a height of 36mm. The MN wire
has a mass per unit length of 2g/m.
I

I
M N
I

4.An MN wire of length 30cm and mass of 30g is suspended from two conducting threads and placed in a
homogeneous magnetic field that is directed vertically upward. Determine the angle of deflection
(measured from the vertical) if the current of 1A is passed through
the conductor. The induction of the magnetic field is 0.5T.
I B

I
𝛼 N

M I