Question

The current illustrated in the diagram is directed upward in a straight vertical wire. A compass is placed alongside the wire at the X mark. Which way will the compass point?

east
south
north
west

Answer 1

@Shadow

Answer 2

I can't say I'm familiar with this type of problem. Do you have any ideas?

Answer 3

Not a clue... I can only assume west by the X.

Answer 4

unless... if the middle is the magnet and the x is where the compass is, then it should point east?

Answer 5

Well, a compass points towards Earth's magnetic North pole. I know charges have to do with magnets, could the flow of a current possible attract the needle of the compass?

Answer 6

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SysHZ6-yai0

Yes

Answer 7

So then I would have to assume the needle of the compass would point northward then

Answer 8

... if the arrow points to the strongest magnetic force, then why would it point north and not east?

:thinking_face:

Answer 9

What's east?

Answer 10

The compass is being placed on the x point. I am not sure what you mean by magnet in the southern part of the graph. Nor do I understand the conclusion of that causing the needle to point eastward. Going to Google some stuff.

Answer 11

Okay, this site posted some stuff that I did not know:
https://www.siyavula.com/read/science/grade-11/electromagnetism/10-electromagnetism-02

"The magnetic field produced by an electric current is always oriented perpendicular to the direction of the current flow."

Answer 12

Is this how you got east?

Answer 13

Not sure what that even means




This is like kindergarten level stuff unless I'm completely misunderstanding it

Answer 14

the needle always points to the strongest magnetic force

Answer 15

I think the thing in the middle of the graph is supposed to represent a magnet, hence it pointing to that

Answer 16

It doesn't say anything about a magnet. The thing in the middle is just wiring representing the flow of current.

Answer 17

Perpendicular means the direction of the magnetic field creates a 90 degree angle with the flow of the current.

Answer 18

Thus I think west or east would make sense.

Answer 19

And since north is already in the eastward direction in relation to this wire, I'm leaning more towards east as the answer.

Answer 20

So I got the right answer for completely the wrong reason?

Answer 21

Huh