Force on Current in Wires Concept

Demonstrations in Force on Current in Wires

Two long black rubber-insulated wires hanging from a wooden clamp on a vertical support rod, with a white paper backdrop behind them, a red Optima 12V battery and switch on the bench below, and heavy orange leads connecting the circuit
Safety

Force on Parallel Conductors

Shows the magnetic force between parallel current-carrying wires: parallel currents attract, antiparallel currents repel. A fiber optic lamp projects wire shadows onto a white backdrop so the motion is visible …
Clamp stand on lecture bench with red wire hanging from horizontal rod, radar magnet on its side at edge of bench, Energizer battery and telegraph switch connected via red wires
Safety

Jumping Wire

Demonstrates the Lorentz force on a current-carrying wire in a magnetic field. Students apply the right-hand rule to predict the wire's motion, then verify by reversing current polarity.
Xantrex DC power supply set to 8V, connected via leads to a mounted DPDT switch (left) and the conductor-axle apparatus on a wooden base with metallic rails and permanent magnet assembly (right)
Safety

Ampere's Motor

A current-carrying axle rolls along conducting rails in a magnetic field, demonstrating. A DPDT switch reverses current direction, reversing the force — a direct illustration of the right-hand rule and …