Question

When electric current flows through a conducting wire, what type of magnetic field is generated above and below the wire ?

• A. Opposite type
• B. Similar type
• C. Not of any kind
• D. None of these

Hint:

Always use the Right-Hand Thumb Rule for finding the direction of the magnetic field around a current-carrying wire. It's a quick and reliable method for solving such problems.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The magnetic field around a straight, current-carrying conductor consists of concentric circles. The direction of this field is determined by the Right-Hand Thumb Rule.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Imagine a horizontal wire with current flowing from left to right.
According to the Right-Hand Thumb Rule, if you point your thumb in the direction of the current (left to right), your fingers will curl around the wire in the direction of the magnetic field lines.
\[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{Above the wire: Your fingers point into the page.} \\ \bullet & \text{Below the wire: Your fingers point out of the page.} \\ \end{array}\] The directions "into the page" and "out of the page" are opposite to each other. Therefore, the magnetic fields above and below the wire are in opposite directions.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The magnetic field generated above and below the wire are of the opposite type (i.e., in opposite directions).