Oersted's experiment shows that a current carrying wire exerts a force on a magnetic needle and deflects it from its usual north-south position. The reverse must also be true, which was proved by the French scientist Andre Marie Ampere, who suggested that a magnet must also exert an equal and opposite force on the current carrying conductor. The above mentioned concept can be best understood by way of a demonstration as explained below.
| Procedure | Observation |
| A small aluminium rod AB (5 cm in length) is connected to the wires and suspended horizontally as shown in the fig | |
| A strong horse-shoe magnet is placed in such a way that the magnetic field is directly upwards and is placed vertically | The rod AB gets displaced. |
| The rod AB is connected in series to a battery, a key and a rheostat | |
| Switch on the current |
| Procedure | Observation |
| Repeat the experiment by changing the direction of flow of current. | The rod AB gets displaced in the reverse direction. |
| Procedure | Observation |
| Repeat the experiment by reversing the direction of magnetic field. | The rod AB gets displaced in the reverse direction. |
Inference
A current carrying conductor experiences a force when placed in a magnetic field. The direction of force is reversed when the direction of current in the conductor is reversed.
The force acting on the current-carrying conductor can be changed by changing the direction of the magnetic field.
Fleming's left Hand Rule
Fleming's left hand rule helps us to predict the movement of a current carrying conductor placed in a magnetic field.
Devices that use current carrying conductors and magnetic fields include electric motors, generators, loudspeakers and microphones.
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