A student placed a compass under a wire connected to a source of electric current. Before the switch was on, the compass pointed North. After the switch was put on, the needle of t... A student placed a compass under a wire connected to a source of electric current. Before the switch was on, the compass pointed North. After the switch was put on, the needle of the compass deflected. What does the observation suggest?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking to explain the observed behavior of a compass needle when an electric current is applied to a wire underneath it. The high level approach to solve this is to analyze the relationship between electric current and magnetic fields.
Answer
There is a magnetic field associated with the electric current causing compass deflection.
The observation suggests that there is a magnetic field associated with the electric current in the wire, causing the compass needle to deflect.
Answer for screen readers
The observation suggests that there is a magnetic field associated with the electric current in the wire, causing the compass needle to deflect.
More Information
When electric current flows through a wire, it creates a magnetic field around it. This magnetic field can affect nearby magnetic objects, such as a compass needle, causing it to deflect from its usual north-south alignment.
Tips
A common mistake is not understanding that an electric current creates a magnetic field, which affects a compass needle.
Sources
- Deflection of a compass due to electric current - physics.stackexchange.com
- 10.2 Magnetic field associated with a current | Electromagnetism - siyavula.com
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