B Force Exerted on a Conductor by a Homogeneous Magnetic Field

AI Thread Summary
A conductor in a homogeneous magnetic field experiences motion due to the Lorentz force, which acts uniformly on both sides of the conductor. The discussion questions the textbook's explanation that suggests a difference in magnetic field strength creates the force, arguing that this interpretation is misleading. Instead, the Lorentz force, determined by the right-hand rule, should be the primary factor in the conductor's movement. The idea of magnetic field lines and their density is presented as a secondary interpretation of the Lorentz force. Ultimately, the motion of the conductor is fundamentally due to the Lorentz force rather than a differential in magnetic field strength.
Heisenberg7
Messages
101
Reaction score
18
1720116266222.png

In my book it's said that a conductor in a homogeneous magnetic field moves because there is a stronger magnetic field on one side and a weaker magnetic field on the other. Now that seems wrong to me. I mean, if we were to look at the Lorentz force that the magnetic field exerts on the conductor, it should point in the same direction anyway (right hand rule; both sides). The way they say it, it's like "because of the difference in magnetic field/induction we get a force". So, is it because of the Lorentz force or the difference in magnetic field?

Thanks in advance.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I think the textbook shows an interpretation of Lorentz force by magnetic field lines, i.e. vortex made by current around the wire should pushed away from dense to less dense side.
 
Last edited:

Thread 'Maxwell stress tensor'

This is from Griffiths' Electrodynamics, 3rd edition, page 352. I am trying to calculate the divergence of the Maxwell stress tensor. The tensor is given as ##T_{ij} =\epsilon_0 (E_iE_j-\frac 1 2 \delta_{ij} E^2)+\frac 1 {\mu_0}(B_iB_j-\frac 1 2 \delta_{ij} B^2)##. To make things easier, I just want to focus on the part with the electrical field, i.e. I want to find the divergence of ##E_{ij}=E_iE_j-\frac 1 2 \delta_{ij}E^2##. In matrix form, this tensor should look like this...
View full post »
Thread 'Applying the Gauss (1835) formula for force between 2 parallel DC currents'

Thread 'Applying the Gauss (1835) formula for force between 2 parallel DC currents'

Please can anyone either:- (1) point me to a derivation of the perpendicular force (Fy) between two very long parallel wires carrying steady currents utilising the formula of Gauss for the force F along the line r between 2 charges? Or alternatively (2) point out where I have gone wrong in my method? I am having problems with calculating the direction and magnitude of the force as expected from modern (Biot-Savart-Maxwell-Lorentz) formula. Here is my method and results so far:- This...
View full post »

Similar threads

I Charge movement relative to magnetic field frame dependence/invariance
Replies
5
Views
899
I Hall effect -- is it always applicable?
Replies
7
Views
2K
Why Doesn't Electric Force Cause Wires to Move?
Replies
15
Views
2K
I Homopolar generator question: Magnetic “wake”
Replies
7
Views
3K
B Antenna induction, oscillating circuit generating EM Waves
Replies
6
Views
2K
Vector field equality Curl Proof of Moving Magnet & Conductor Problem
2
Replies
54
Views
4K
I Why are Maxwell's equations and the Lorentz force "so different"?
Replies
9
Views
2K
Force acting on a current carrying conductor within a magnetic field
Replies
2
Views
1K
I Question on Hall Effect and magnetic force
Replies
2
Views
2K
I Resulting magnetic field due to the passage of an AC current
Replies
27
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top