Ampere's swimming rule about magnetic field around a current carrying conductor

[manjuvenamma]

We know that if current is flowing in the direction of z-axis (verical), magnetic field is formed in a plance perpendicular to that line i.e., in the XY plane. That is if you keep a compass in the XY plane it will experience a force as per the rule. But what will happen to a compass that is placed vertically i.e. along the z axis?

 

[rahuldandekar]

Depends on which plane it is free to rotate in. If it can align itself along the magnetic field in that plane, it will rotate and do so. If magnetic field lines are perpendicular to that plane, it cannot align itself with them, so it won't rotate.

 

[astrokreng]

Ampere's swimming rule is a fundamental principle in electromagnetism that explains the relationship between the direction of current flow in a conductor and the resulting magnetic field. It states that when current is flowing in the direction of the z-axis, a magnetic field is formed in the XY plane that is perpendicular to the direction of current flow. This means that if a compass is placed in the XY plane, it will experience a force due to the magnetic field.

However, the question arises, what will happen if a compass is placed vertically along the z-axis? In this case, the compass will not experience a force due to the magnetic field formed by the current carrying conductor. This is because the magnetic field is formed in the XY plane and has no component along the z-axis. Therefore, the compass will not be affected by the magnetic field and will point towards the Earth's magnetic north as usual.

It is important to note that the magnetic field around a current carrying conductor is three-dimensional and its strength and direction vary at different points. The direction of the magnetic field is determined by the right-hand rule, where the thumb points in the direction of current flow and the fingers curl in the direction of the magnetic field.

In summary, Ampere's swimming rule is a valuable tool for understanding the relationship between current flow and magnetic fields. It helps us predict the direction and strength of the magnetic field around a current carrying conductor and how it will interact with other magnetic objects, such as a compass.