The discussion revolves around the behavior of a current-carrying wire in an electric field (E field) and whether it would experience deflection. Participants explore various scenarios, including the effects of voltage across the wire and the implications of moving frames of reference.
Participants express differing views on whether the wire would deflect in an E field, with some suggesting it would and others arguing it would not. The discussion remains unresolved, with multiple competing perspectives presented.
Some assumptions about the conditions under which the wire is suspended, the nature of the electric field, and the effects of moving frames are not fully explored, leaving room for further clarification.
I expect it wouldn't. But let's make it more interesting, and use a length of resistance wire so there is significant potential across the wire. (Make it of carbon and delicately suspend it with elastic quartz fibres to avoid arguments.) Would it experience deflecting forces now with a few hundred volts P.D.?cragar said:If I had a current carrying wire in an E field. Would it deflect?
I can't comment.But If I was moving with respect to the wire I would see length contraction and a net E field. So in my frame the wire would deflect. Or is something wrong with my reasoning?
I think the more positive end of the wire will be pushed by the E field (i.e., attracted towards the negative plate) and the negative end of the wire will be attracted by the E field (i.e., attracted towards the positive plate), so the wire will tend to rotate about an axis through its centre.cragar said:so if we have a suspended wire with a voltage across it, so There is an E field down the wire, so it is basically like a plate capacitor. So if we have a charge separation in the wire
the +q and -q charged will experience forces in the opposite directions and should cancel.