Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor

• If a current carrying conductor is in a magnetic field, it warps the field lines.

• The field lines from the magnet want to straighten out naturally.

• This causes a catapult like action on the wire creating a force

• If you reverse current, you will reverse direction of force

• If you reverse direction of field, you will reverse direction of force.

• The direction of the force, current or magnetic field is given by Fleming's left-hand rule: