$(a)$ $A$ current-carrying circular loop lies on a smooth horizontal plane. Can a uniform magnetic field be set up in such a manner that the loop turns around itself (i.e.,turns about the vertical axis)?
$(b)$ $A$ current-carrying circular loop is located in a uniform external magnetic field. If the loop is free to turn,what is its orientation of stable equilibrium? Show that in this orientation,the flux of the total field (external field $+$ field produced by the loop) is maximum.
$(c)$ $A$ loop of irregular shape carrying current is located in an external magnetic field. If the wire is flexible,why does it change to a circular shape?

Vedclass pdf generator app on play store
Vedclass iOS app on app store
(N/A) No,because that would require the torque $\tau$ to be in the vertical direction. Since the area vector $\vec{A}$ of the horizontal loop is in the vertical direction,the torque $\vec{\tau} = I(\vec{A} \times \vec{B})$ would always lie in the horizontal plane of the loop for any uniform magnetic field $\vec{B}$. Thus,it cannot rotate about the vertical axis.
$(b)$ The orientation of stable equilibrium is one where the area vector $\vec{A}$ of the loop is parallel to the external magnetic field $\vec{B}$. In this orientation,the magnetic field produced by the loop is in the same direction as the external field,both being normal to the plane of the loop. This alignment maximizes the total magnetic flux through the loop.
$(c)$ $A$ flexible current-carrying loop in a magnetic field tends to maximize the magnetic flux through it to reach a state of minimum potential energy. For a fixed perimeter,a circular shape encloses the maximum area. Therefore,the loop adopts a circular shape with its plane normal to the magnetic field to maximize the total flux.

Explore More

Similar Questions

$A$ circular coil of $20$ turns and radius $10\, cm$ is placed in a uniform magnetic field of $0.10\, T$ normal to the plane of the coil. If the current in the coil is $5\, A$,then the torque acting on the coil will be...... $Nm$.

The radius of a circular ring of wire is $R$ and it carries a current of $I \, A$. At its centre,a smaller ring of radius $r$ with current $i$ and $N$ turns is placed. Assuming that the planes of the two rings are perpendicular to each other and the magnetic induction produced at the centre of the bigger ring is constant,then the torque acting on the smaller ring will be:

$A$ single circular loop of radius $1.00 \, m$ carries a current of $10.0 \, mA$. It is placed in a uniform magnetic field of magnitude $0.500 \, T$ that is directed parallel to the plane of the loop as shown in the figure. The magnitude of the torque exerted on the loop by the magnetic field is:

An electron in the ground state of a hydrogen atom is revolving in an anticlockwise direction in a circular orbit of radius $r$. The atom is placed in a uniform magnetic field $B$ in such a way that the magnetic moment of the orbital electron makes an angle of $30^{\circ}$ with the magnetic field. The torque experienced by the orbital electron is

Difficult
View Solution

$A$ uniform magnetic field $B$ of $0.3\, T$ is along the positive $Z-$ direction. $A$ rectangular loop $(abcd)$ of sides $10\, cm \times 5\, cm$ carries a current $I$ of $12\, A$. Out of the following different orientations,which one corresponds to stable equilibrium?

Vedclass Products

For Students

Vedclass Test Series

Mock tests in real JEE/NEET style with performance analysis. 5-day free trial.

Start Free Trial
For Teachers

Exam Paper Generator

Generate Set A/B/C/D exam papers from 7.5L+ questions in 2 minutes. 3 chapters free.

Try Free
For Institutes

Online Exam Module

Live online exams with unlimited students, 360° analytics & white-label branding.

See Demo