Experiment: Demonstrating that an electric wire moves in a magnetic field

Aim:  To demostrate how a current carrying wire moves in a magnetic field

Materials: a length of flexible wire, small pieces of cardboard to balance the wire, 2 strong magnets/horseshoe magnet, battery with 6V or more

Method

Demonstrating the motor effect

1. Place the two magnets about 3 cm apart with the opposite poles facing each other or prop up the horseshoe magnet
2. Support/Balance a length of wire between the two magnet poles using small pieces of cardboard folded into V shapes
3. Connect the ends of the wire to a battery and switch
4. Close he switch and observe the wire
5. Open the sitch
6. Connect the ends of the wire to different terminals so that current flows in the opposite direction
7. Close the switch and observe the wire
8. Open the switch

Observation and Results

• The wire moves/jerks if the circuit is closed by the switch
• If the terminals are switched the wire moves/jerks in the opposite direction
• The wire also moves in the opposite direction if the poles of the magnet(s) are switched

Conclusion

• A current carrying wire’s field and a magnetic field interact with one another to produce the motor effect
• The motor effect is used in making electric motors
• Which convert electrical energy into kinetic energy

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