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J5-18. Oersted Experiment

Purpose

A compass needle is mounted directly below a wire on a clear plastic sheet which is positioned on an overhead projector. When a current flows in the wire the compass needle lines up perpendicular to the wire, showing that the current-carrying wire produce

Equipment

Small coil mounted in plastic base with compass needle attached, battery, and overhead projector.

Images

J5-18

Description

A compass needle is mounted directly below a wire on a clear plastic sheet which is positioned on an overhead projector. When a current flows in the wire the compass needle lines up perpendicular to the wire, showing that the current-carrying wire produces a magnetic field perpendicular to the wire. The action is viewed using an overhead projector.

References

(PIRA 5H10.20)