Solving Currents & Magnets Practical Problem

[Pioneer]

I'm stucked on a practical in which I was supposed to find out how the magnetic force on a current carrying conductor depends on its length, current through it and the magentic field strength. After this I was supposed to plot 3 graphs.

Well, I carried out the expt. using a current balance but when I conducted the expt, which had 3 different parts, I got -ve values for (F1 - F0), which is proportional to the force exerted. NB. F1 is the weight of the magnet assembly with current flowing and obviously F0 is the weight without current flowing. Did I get negative values for force because the direction of the magnetic field was reversed? Also, If I use the -ve values, wouldn't my results obtained from the graphs be incorrect? NB. Also, I had to find out what F was by combining the 3 different parts. I.e, I had to find F in terms of I, n (no. of magnets), L and K (constant of proportionality), which I found to be F = KnIL. Thanks for any help.

 

[Nate810]

Yes, it is possible that you got negative values for force because the direction of the magnetic field was reversed. It is also possible that your results obtained from the graphs could be incorrect if the negative values are used. To ensure accuracy, you should make sure that the direction of the magnetic field is consistent in all three parts of the experiment. If the direction of the magnetic field is reversed, then the negative force values should be discarded and only the positive values should be used.

 

[quicknote]

As a scientist, it is important to carefully analyze and interpret data in order to draw accurate conclusions. In this case, it seems that you have encountered some unexpected results in your practical experiment.

One possible explanation for the negative values of force (F1-F0) could be due to the direction of the magnetic field being reversed. This could result in a negative value for force, as the direction of the force exerted on the current carrying conductor would also be reversed. It is important to carefully consider the direction of the magnetic field when conducting experiments involving magnets and currents.

However, it is also important to consider other factors that may have influenced the results. For example, were there any external factors that could have affected the measurements, such as electromagnetic interference or changes in the environment? It may be helpful to repeat the experiment and carefully control for any potential variables.

In terms of using the negative values in your graphs, it is important to consider the overall trend and relationship between the variables. If the negative values are consistent and can be explained, then they can be included in the analysis. However, if they are outliers or cannot be explained, it may be best to exclude them from the analysis.

Finally, it is important to carefully consider how the different parts of the experiment are related and how they contribute to the overall understanding of the problem. It may be helpful to review the equations and principles involved in the experiment and ensure that they are being applied correctly.

Overall, it is important to carefully analyze and interpret the data in order to accurately solve the practical problem. It may also be helpful to seek guidance from a mentor or colleague in order to ensure the accuracy of the results.