Oersted's Experiment - Physics Demonstrations - Oersted's Experiment | Physics Undergraduate Labs

This demonstration uses 10 amperes of current, which will cause significant heating in the wires. Only activate the current for brief periods (5-10 seconds maximum) to prevent overheating. Allow cooling time between demonstrations. Ensure wire connections are secure to avoid arcing.

Purpose

Recreates Oersted's 1820 discovery that electric currents produce magnetic fields. A compass needle inside a current loop deflects perpendicular to the loop plane, demonstrating the right-hand rule and the fundamental connection between electricity and magnetism.

Oersted's experiment apparatus: copper loop on a small stand with compass needle inside, connected via black and red leads to a white DC power supply reading 01.2 V and 08.3 A, with a terminal block on the left and a hand adjusting it

Same apparatus with power supply set to 06.0 V and 00.0 A (no current flowing), compass needle aligned with Earth's field inside the copper loop

Figure 1: The apparatus with current flowing (~8 A). The compass needle inside the copper loop has deflected perpendicular to the loop plane.

Figure 2: The apparatus with no current flowing (power supply set to 6 V but 0 A). The compass needle rests in its natural orientation aligned with Earth's field.

Compass Support Stand

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Large Compass Needle

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Oersted's Experiment

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Safety Warnings

Warning: High Current Warning

Purpose