PIRA 5H10.20 - Oersted's Effect

• Set up compasses so that the needles point toward the wire before current flows through the wire.
  

• Send a 75 ampere current through the wire for about 5-10 seconds.
  

• The compasses will deflect away from the wire to illustrate the magnetic field lines.

Photo Shows the Demo Apparatus without the Power Supply

Drawing is by Courtesy of the University of Minnesota.

Drawing doesnot depict the demonstration used by U.T. Austin.

Last Update 2/98 - University of Texas at Austin Physics Dept. - All Rights Reserved.