Question

Draw the magnetic field lines due to a straight wire carrying current.

Answer 1

Hint: In this question, we need to sketch the magnetic field lines due to a straight wire carrying current. For this, we will use the Fleming's right hand rule to determine the direction of the concentric magnetic field around the conductor.


Complete step by step answer:A wire carrying electric current produces a magnetic field with closed field lines surrounding the wire. Magnetic field lines are in the form of a circle around the cylindrical current-carrying wire.
The magnetic field around the wire is in the form of concentric circles and to determine its direction we use Fleming right-hand rule.
According to Fleming’s right-hand thumb rule, when we grasp (hold) the conductor carrying the current by wrapping the conductor by fingers and pointing the thumb in the direction of the current in the conductor.
If the thumb of the hand is pointed on the conductor is in the direction of the current the finger wrapping the conductor in the clockwise or anticlockwise direction will be the direction of the magnetic field.

Note:It is interesting to note here that when the direction of the current in the current-carrying conductor is upwards then, the direction of the magnetic field is in the anticlockwise direction and when the direction of the current in the current-carrying conductor is downwards then, the direction of the magnetic field is in the clockwise direction.