Magnetic fields can be visualized using magnetic field lines, which indicate the direction and strength of the field at different points.
The size of the force acting on a current-carrying wire is given by the equation: F=BIl sinθ, where B is the magnetic field strength in Tesla, T.
The force on a current-carrying wire will be greatest when the field and the current are perpendicular, i.e. sinθ=1, but when they are not perpendicular; θ, the angle between the direction of field and the current are used in the equation.
The force on individual charged particles can be calculated using the equation: F=Bqv sinθ, where v is the velocity of the moving particle and q is its charge.
Electrons are commonly the charges involved, therefore q=-1.6 × 10-19 C, but other charged particles will obey the same equation.
The direction of the force on a charged particle can be determined using Flemings left-hand Rule, in the same way as the force on a current carrying wire.
The direction of the current will be the same as the direction of movement of the positively charged particles.
The direction of current will be in the opposite direction to the movement of electrons, as they are negatively charged.
