ABSTRACT

The direction of the force exerted on the current-carrying conductor, by the magnetic field, can be intuitively determined by superimposing the circumferentially directed flux field, produced by the current flow, upon the already existing flux field, as shown in Fig. 2.2. It is apparent that the flux r/>I produced by the current-carrying conductor tends to cancel the flux r/>F of the magnetic field on the right side of the conductor and to reinforce it on the left side. Thus, intuitively, the conductor should experience a force exerted on it, which is directed to the right. This is, in fact, what has been experimentally determined, as stated by Ampere's law in eq. (2.1).