PIRA 5H40.10 - Forces on Currents in Wires: Parallel Wires

• Two insulated wires hang from a frame and are connected to a knife switch.

• The demonstration sits atop a power supply that is definitely not shown below.

• Current direction is controlled by at DPDT knive switch on the demo.

• Recommended: Do not wait until classbreak to practice this demo.

• Before turning on power supply select a repel or attract with the knive switch.

• The power supply is turned on by a toggle switch.

• A variac dial set at zero is turned-up to a maximum of 75 amps.

• Ammeter is the gauge on the right of the power supply.

• Wires will repel or attract each other.

• Turn off power supply within 15 seconds.

• Reverse the current with the large knive switch.

• Turn the power supply switch on for another 15 seconds maximum.

Photo Shows the Demo Apparatus Used by the University of Texas at Austin.

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