Table of Contents
- Magnetic Effect of Electric Current
- Summary
- What’s Next?
In this series, we are going to learn how a current-carrying conductor generates a magnetic field around it, what are magnetic field lines and the principle of electromagnetic induction.
What is the Magnetic effect of electric current?
- In the year 1820, Danish physicist, Hans Christian Oersted, observed that current through a wire caused a deflection in a nearby magnetic needle.
- To verify his observation he placed a copper wire near a compass needle and connected it to the battery. He observed that whenever there is an electric current flowing through the circuit, the needle showed deflection.
- Thus, he concluded that an electric current generates a magnetic field.
- If a copper wire is wound around a nail and a few paper clips are kept close to it, then the clips are not attracted by the nail. But if the ends of copper wire are attached to a battery, the paper clips are attracted by the nail. This happens because of the alignment of electrons in the iron nail.
Battery not connected Battery connected
- Before connecting the battery, the electrons in the nail are pointed in different directions. Hence, there is no magnetic effect. But as soon as the battery is connected, the current flows through the copper wire and the electrons in the nail get aligned in the same direction as that of the current. As a result, the iron nail becomes magnetic.
