Explain why, when the current is switched on through a wire, the needle of a compass kept nearby gets deflected from its north - south position
Answers
Answer:
The needle of a compass is a tiny magnet, which points in the north-south direction. When a magnet is brought close to it, the needle gets deflected. When an electric current passes through a wire, it behaves like a magnet. This magnetic effect of the electric current makes the compass needle deflect from the north-south direction.
Answer:
When current is passed through the coiled wire, it deflects the compass near it from its north-south position like a magnet. This is called magnetic effect of the current. As we know that needle of the compass is made up of a thin magnet. When this needle comes in contact with another magnet then the like poles of the magnet repel each other and opposite poles attract each other. So the deflection is seen in the needle. In this case the wire behaves like a magnet and causes deflection in needle of the compass.