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
Couple on a coil in a magnetic field
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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.
More in Magnetic Fields
- Magnetic Field
- Force on a current-carrying wire
- Magnetic Flux density
- An Electric Motor
- Force on a moving Charge in a Magnetic Field
- Cyclotron
- The Mass Spectrometer
All 8 lessons in Magnetic Fields · All OCR A-level Physics topics