Oersted Experiment

It show a magnetic field is produced are a current carrying wire

Experiment is as follows

experiment has

A resistance

Wire

Cell

Magnetic Compass

* Firstly when the circuit was open (ie no current flowing through the wire). The axis of magnetic
compass was coinciding with the axis of wire.

* As the circuit is closed, the current starts flowing which generates magnetic field around the
wire whose presence can be detected by magnetic compass.

* As the polarity of battery is reversed, the direction of rotation of compass needle is also
reversed

* The direction of deflection of compass needle can be given by :–

– Snow rule

– Swimming rule

* Snow Rule : S N O W
South North Observer West

It states that when current flows from south to north direction in a wire kept below a magnetic
compass then the north pole of magnetic compass defect towards west.