E&M > Magnetic Fields and Forces > Force on Current-Carrying Wires DCS# 5H40.40

CURRENT BALANCE

current balance
        apparatus

APPARATUS
straight wire on plexiglas frame 202-20-D
two bar magnets with wooden spacer 202-20-C
digital balance with 0.01 g sensitivity 013B-hood
ammeter 214-01-B
0-8A DC power supply 202-08-D

DESCRIPTION
A digital balance is used to measure the force on a pair of magnets as a function of current through a wire between the magnet poles.

 
NOTES
graph of force vs current
REFERENCE
 
W. Herreman, R. Huysentruyt, “Measuring the Magnetic Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor,” The Physics Teacher  vol. 33, 288-289 (1995).