Motion of a wire in a magnetic field

AI Thread Summary
When a wire carrying current is placed in a uniform magnetic field, it experiences a force defined by F=I(lxB). This force is always perpendicular to both the magnetic field and the current direction. As a result, the motion of the wire is straight rather than circular. The perpendicular nature of the force means that, without constraints, the wire will move in a straight line. Thus, the motion of the wire in a magnetic field is characterized as straight motion.
eoghan
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Hi there!
If a wire is surrounded by a uniform magnetic field B, then there is a force F=I(lxB). By this force, what is the motion of the wire? Is it a circular motion or a straight motion?
 
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The force, from Lorentz law, as you have written, is always perpendicular to both the magnetic field and to the current in the wire. Without costraints, the motion is also perpindicular to the wire, so it is straight motion.
 

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