Direction of Magnetic Force on a Wire Moving Down a Slope with Current I?

[Eitan Levy]

Homework Statement

A wire with a current of I (flowing into the screen) moves down on a slope.
What is the direction of the magnetic force acting on it?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

I have no Idea why the answer isn't horizontal, but rather opposing its velocity direction.

 

[BvU]

Says who ?
And: What exactly is your idea of the force ?
"request": Use the template in the way it is meant to be used...

 

[Eitan Levy]

Says who ?
And: What exactly is your idea of the force ?
"request": Use the template in the way it is meant to be used...

Says the answer in the book.
This is the EXACT setup

And in three different place I saw something different.

 

[haruspex]

Says the answer in the book.
This is the EXACT setup View attachment 227008
And in three different place I saw something different.

In your original diagram you had the field vertical, but now you show force as vertical and field acting in the direction of v. Have you mislabelled the second diagram?
Also, the question as stated makes no reference to a field in the text. That only appears in the diagram. Did you quote the whole text?

 

[Eitan Levy]

In your original diagram you had the field vertical, but now you show force as vertical and field acting in the direction of v. Have you mislabelled the second diagram?
Also, the question as stated makes no reference to a field in the text. That only appears in the diagram. Did you quote the whole text?

I apologize, this picture isn't the same.
The magnetic field is indeed vertical, as shown before. This is just another angle to look at it (This picture doesn't have anything to do with the problem, just the angle).

 

[haruspex]

This picture doesn't have anything to do with the problem, just the angle

So what, exactly, is the answer given in the book?

 

[Eitan Levy]

So what, exactly, is the answer given in the book?

It says the force is opposing the velocity.

 

[haruspex]

It says the force is opposing the velocity.

That is a bit vague. It does not necessarily mean that it acts antiparallel to the velocity, merely that it is in a direction that resists the movement.

 

[TSny]

Homework Statement

A wire with a current of I (flowing into the screen) moves down on a slope.
What is the direction of the magnetic force acting on it?

Please make sure you have stated the problem exactly as given, word-for-word. Sometimes, the reason a student is having difficulty is that they have misinterpreted the wording of the problem.

Also, you attached a figure in your first post. Is this a figure that was provided with the statement of the problem, or is this a figure that you constructed yourself?

 

[lekh2003]

That is a bit vague. It does not necessarily mean that it acts antiparallel to the velocity, merely that it is in a direction that resists the movement.

I think what the textbook means to say is that the force is in the exact opposite direction of the current. I don't think a simple question from an assumable simple textbook would say otherwise.

For the OP, I simple don't seem to understand what you are trying to say. Start from the beginning, quote the text of the problem, quote the answer. Only show us what is in the textbook. Then, completely separately, give us your opinion and what you think is happening.

 

[haruspex]

what the textbook means to say is that the force is in the exact opposite direction of the current.

Of the current? You mean, of the movement, perhaps? That is how Eitan is reading it, but that answer would be wrong.

 

[lekh2003]

Of the current? You mean, of the movement, perhaps? That is how Eitan is reading it, but that answer would be wrong.

Ah, yes the movement. Opposite the movement. But OP simply needs to make the problem a little more clear.

 

[haruspex]

Opposite the movement.

But it would not be directly opposite to the movement, would it?

 

[lekh2003]

But it would not be directly opposite to the movement, would it?

Okay, so if we use the right hand rule with the velocity downwards and to the right, and the magnetic field upwards, then the force moves with the current. So, it is parallel, but not opposite. This is confusing me as well now, I might as well wait for the OP to respond and then continue.

 

[haruspex]

the force moves with the current.

Not sure what you mean by that. There will be an induced current. It is unclear to me whether the current stated in the question is this induced current or additional to it, but whatever...
The force that results should be normal to the field and to the current, so horizontal.

 

[Dadface]

Homework Statement

A wire with a current of I (flowing into the screen) moves down on a slope.
What is the direction of the magnetic force acting on it?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

I have no Idea why the answer isn't horizontal, but rather opposing its velocity direction.

Try googling Lenz's law.

 

[haruspex]

Try googling Lenz's law.

That only tells you the direction of the induced current. The resulting force will still be horizontal.