Question

question 16 (1 point)
the direction of the force on a current - carrying wire in a magnetic field is described by which of the following?
perpendicular to the current only
perpendicular to the magnetic field only
perpendicular to both the current and the magnetic field
perpendicular to neither the current or the magnetic field

Explanation:

To determine the direction of the force on a current - carrying wire in a magnetic field, we use the right - hand rule (Fleming's left - hand rule for motors). The formula for the magnetic force on a current - carrying wire is $\vec{F}=I\vec{L}\times\vec{B}$, where $\vec{F}$ is the force, $I$ is the current, $\vec{L}$ is the vector in the direction of the current, and $\vec{B}$ is the magnetic field vector. The cross - product operation implies that the force vector $\vec{F}$ is perpendicular to both the current vector (direction of $\vec{L}$) and the magnetic field vector $\vec{B}$. So the force on a current - carrying wire in a magnetic field is perpendicular to both the current and the magnetic field.

Answer:

C. perpendicular to both the current and the magnetic field