Magnetic Field Due to a Current Carrying Straight Conductor
Magnetic Field Due to a Current Carrying Straight Conductor: Overview
This topic describes the characteristics of the magnetic field produced due to current passing through a straight conductor. If current passes through a straight conductor, a magnetic field will be produced around the conductor up to a fixed region.
Important Questions on Magnetic Field Due to a Current Carrying Straight Conductor
Describe an activity to demonstrate the pattern of magnetic field lines around a straight conductor carrying current.

A straight conductor is held perpendicular to the plane of paper and it carries a current downwards. Draw the magnetic lines of force.

A straight conductor is held perpendicular to the plane of paper and it carries a current upwards. Draw the magnetic lines of force.

A student performs an experiment to study the magnetic effect of current around a current carrying straight conductor, he reports that
(i) The direction of deflection of the north pole of a compass needle kept at a given point near the conductor remains unaffected even when the terminals of the battery sending current in the wire are interchanged.
(ii) For a given battery, the degree of deflection of a N-pole decreases when the compass is kept at a point farther away from the conductor.
Which of the above observation is incorrect and why?

What is the nature of the magnetic field associated with a straight current carrying conductor?

If the key in the arrangement, is taken out (the circuit is made open) and magnetic field lines are drawn over the horizontal plane ABCD, the lines are:

What is the rule which is used to find the direction of magnetic field lines due to straight current carrying conductor?

Draw magnetic field lines around a straight current-carrying conductor.
