EM-FOR: simple and low-cost force on a straight current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field experimental kit

Anis Nazihah Mat Daud

Abstract

In this study, we design and construct a low-cost experimental kit for the force on a straight current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field experiment, namely EM-FOR. The kit consists of several pairs of rectangular-shaped permanent magnets with different polarities facing each other on a U-shaped aluminium casing as the source of the magnetic field, a straight copper wire at the centre between the two magnets as the electrical conductor, conductor rings and connecting wires to connect conductor and electrical source, and an electronic balance to measure the magnitude and to determine the direction of the force on a straight current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field. The design of the EM-FOR experimental kit was validated by determining the magnitude and direction of the force on a straight current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field for normal and reverse connections to a power supply. The constructed kit can be utilized for three experiments: the effects of applied current, conductor length and electromagnetic field strength on the force on a straight current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field. 2022 IOP Publishing Ltd.

References

Karal, I. S., Alev, N., & Başkan, Z. (2010). Student teachers’ Subject Matter Knowledge (SMK) on electric current and magnetic field. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2(2), 1498–1502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.03.225

Onorato, P., & de Ambrosis, A. (2013). How can magnetic forces do work? Investigating the problem with students. Physics Education, 48(6), 766–775. https://doi.org/10.1088/0031-9120/48/6/766

Septianto, R. D., Suhendra, D., & Iskandar, F. (2017). Utilisation of the magnetic sensor in a smartphone for facile magnetostatics experiment: Magnetic field due to electrical current in straight and loop wires. Physics Education, 52(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6552/52/1/015015

Setiawan, B., Septianto, R. D., Suhendra, D., & Iskandar, F. (2017). Measurement of 3-axis magnetic fields induced by current wires using a smartphone in magnetostatics experiments. Physics Education, 52(6). https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6552/aa83e3

Stohr-Hunt, P. M. (1996). An Analysis of Frequency of Hands-On Experience and Science Achievement. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 33(1), 101–109. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1098-2736(199601)33:1<101::AID-TEA6>3.0.CO;2-Z