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Couple on a coil in a magnetic field

If a current carrying coil is placed in a magnetic field a pair of forces act on the sides of the coil. The force on each side is in the opposite direction and forms a couple. As a result, the coil rotates.If the coil has N turns, then each of the two vertical sides experiences a horizontal force of NBIl at right angles to the field lines. The Torque of the couple is Fd where d is the width of the coil. If the plane of the coil is at an angle Θ to the field lines then the torque = FdcosΘ

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Specification: OCR Physics A (H556), A-level, 6.3.1 Magnetic fields. Topic: Magnetic Fields.

Key terms in this lesson

alpha radiation
Ionising radiation consisting of alpha particles, each made of two protons and two neutrons, emitted from an unstable nucleus.
binding energy
The energy needed to separate a nucleus completely into its individual, unbound protons and neutrons.

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