Magnetic Effect of Electric Current mcq. We covered all the Magnetic Effect of Electric Current mcq in this post for free so that you can practice well for the exam.
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mcq on Magnetic Effect of Electric Current for NEET Students
A phosphor bronze wire is used in a moving coil galvanometer because (i) it provides high restoring torque per unit twist (ii) it possesses high tensile strength
(A) only (i)
(B) only (ii)
(C) neither (i) nor (ii)
(D) both (i) and (ii)
Explanation: This question focuses on why a specific alloy wire is selected for use in precision measuring instruments that rely on controlled angular deflection of a coil. The material used for suspension in such devices must satisfy mechanical stability requirements as well as provide consistent elastic behavior so that the restoring effect remains predictable for small angular displacements. In sensitive measurement systems, the restoring behavior depends on torsion, which must be stable and proportional to the angular twist to ensure accurate deflection readings.
The wire also plays a structural role because it supports the moving coil assembly and must withstand repeated twisting without permanent deformation. Materials with good tensile properties ensure that the suspension does not break or stretch under repeated use, maintaining calibration accuracy over time. Additionally, resistance to fatigue is important since the wire undergoes continuous mechanical stress during operation.
The overall selection of the wire depends on balancing mechanical strength with stable elastic properties, ensuring that the coil returns reliably to its equilibrium position after current flow is removed. This balance is essential for maintaining sensitivity and long-term durability in measurement instruments used in electrical experiments.
Option b – only (ii)
A straight current-carrying wire is positioned along the axis of a circular current-carrying coil, which lies perpendicular to the wire. In this arrangement
(A) only the straight wire is subjected to a force
Explanation: This situation describes an interaction between two current-carrying conductors arranged in a perpendicular geometric configuration, where one conductor forms a circular loop and the other is a straight wire passing through its central axis. The magnetic field produced by a current-carrying straight conductor consists of concentric circular field lines around it, while a circular coil produces a magnetic field along its axis.
When analyzing such systems, the force experienced by each conductor depends on whether the magnetic field produced by one exerts a NET directional influence on the current elements of the other. In symmetric configurations, contributions of magnetic force on opposite elements can cancel due to equal magnitude and opposite direction effects. Torque considerations also depend on whether there is asymmetry in field distribution acting on different parts of the coil.
In carefully arranged perpendicular geometries with axial alignment, symmetry plays a major role in determining whether any NET translational or rotational effect persists. The interaction is governed by the Lorentz force principle, where the direction and magnitude depend on current direction, field orientation, and relative geometry of conductors.
Select the incorrect method to improve the voltage and current sensitivity of a galvanometer
(A) increase the number of coil turns
(B) increase the coil’s area
(C) reduce the resistance of the galvanometer
(D) lower the torsional constant of the suspension wire
Explanation: This question deals with how a galvanometer’s responsiveness to small electrical signals can be enhanced. Sensitivity depends on how much deflection is produced for a given current or voltage, and this is controlled by factors like number of turns, coil area, resistance, and torsional constant of the suspension system. Increasing the number of turns or coil area enhances magnetic torque for the same current, while reducing the torsional constant allows greater angular deflection for smaller forces.
However, not all modifications improve both current and voltage sensitivity simultaneously. Some changes that appear beneficial in one aspect may reduce performance in another due to the interplay between resistance, damping, and restoring torque. Voltage sensitivity especially depends on the ratio of current sensitivity to total resistance, so altering resistance has a complex effect. Understanding these relationships is important for optimizing measuring instruments used in precision electrical measurements. The key idea is balancing mechanical and electrical factors to achieve maximum deflection for minimal input signal while maintaining stability and accuracy.
Option c – reduce the resistance of the galvanometer
When a magnetic needle is placed in a region with a non-uniform magnetic field, it will experience
Explanation: A magnetic needle behaves like a small bar magnet with a defined magnetic dipole moment. When placed in a magnetic field, it experiences torque due to interaction between its dipole moment and the external field, which tends to align it along the field direction. In a uniform field, only rotational effect occurs, but in a non-uniform field, the field strength varies from point to point across the needle.
This variation leads to an additional effect because one end of the needle experiences a slightly different field strength compared to the other end. As a result, there is not only rotational influence but also a NET translational tendency. The combined effect of torque and spatial variation in field strength produces a more complex motion than simple alignment. This concept is important in understanding how magnetic dipoles behave in gradients, such as in magnetic sensing devices and field mapping techniques.
Option c – both a force and a torque
A current-carrying conductor placed perpendicular to a magnetic field experiences a force F. To reduce this force to half, one must
(A) incline the conductor at 60° to the magnetic field
(B) incline the conductor at 30° to the magnetic field
(C) align the conductor with the magnetic field
(D) align the conductor opposite to the magnetic field
Explanation: A current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field experiences force depending on current, magnetic field strength, length of conductor, and the sine of the angle between current direction and magnetic field. The force is maximum when the conductor is perpendicular to the field because the sine component becomes maximum.
To reduce the force, the effective component of the magnetic interaction must decrease. This can be achieved by changing the angle between the conductor and the magnetic field so that the perpendicular component reduces. As the angle decreases, the sine value reduces, thereby decreasing the force proportionally. This relationship highlights how orientation plays a crucial role in electromagnetic force generation and is widely used in devices where controlled force variation is needed, such as electric motors and measurement instruments.
Option b – incline the conductor at 30° to the magnetic field
When a flexible wire carrying current is placed in an external magnetic field, it tends to become
(A) linear
(B) circular
(C) rectangular
(D) square
Explanation: A flexible current-carrying wire in a magnetic field experiences distributed magnetic forces along its length. Each small segment of the wire feels a force perpendicular to both current direction and magnetic field direction. Since the wire is flexible, it is free to deform under these forces rather than remaining rigid.
The NET effect of these distributed forces is that the wire rearranges itself into a shape where magnetic forces are balanced along its structure. This often results in a curved configuration, as the system seeks a stable state with minimized magnetic energy and balanced tension. The final shape depends on boundary conditions and field orientation. This phenomenon is important in understanding electromagnetic shaping effects in conductive materials and is also fundamental in the working of devices like motors and moving coil systems.
Option b – circular
The current required to produce one scale division in a galvanometer is referred to as
(A) figure of merit
(B) current sensitivity
(C) voltage sensitivity
(D) galvanometer constant
Explanation: A galvanometer is designed to detect very small currents by converting electrical input into mechanical deflection of a coil. The relationship between current and deflection is proportional within the elastic limit of the suspension system. The sensitivity of the device is defined by how much current is required to produce a measurable unit deflection on its scale.
This parameter is used to characterize the instrument’s responsiveness and calibration accuracy. A smaller required current indicates higher sensitivity, meaning the device can detect weaker signals. This concept is crucial in precision measurement systems where small changes in electrical quantities need to be observed and recorded reliably. It also helps in comparing different galvanometer designs based on their performance efficiency.
Option a – figure of merit
A rectangular coil measuring 0.12 m by 0.1 m with 100 turns is suspended vertically in a uniform magnetic field of 0.4 Wb/m² and carries 1 A of current. If the coil’s plane is inclined at 60° to the field, the torque needed for equilibrium is
(A) 0.12 Nm
(B) 0.15 Nm
(C) 0.20 Nm
(D) 0.24 Nm
Explanation: A current-carrying coil placed in a magnetic field experiences a torque due to interaction between its magnetic dipole moment and the external field. The dipole moment depends on the number of turns, current, and area of the coil. The torque depends on how the plane of the coil is oriented relative to the magnetic field direction.
When the coil is inclined, only a component of the magnetic interaction contributes to rotational effect. The torque increases with area, current, field strength, and number of turns, but is also influenced by angular orientation. This principle is used in moving coil instruments where equilibrium is achieved when magnetic torque is balanced by restoring torque from the suspension system. The system settles at a position where rotational effects are stabilized, allowing measurement of current based on angular deflection.
Option d – 0.24 Nm
Unlike parallel current-carrying wires, two slow-moving electron beams traveling in the same direction repel each other due to
(A) no magnetic interaction
(B) no electrostatic interaction
(C) magnetic interaction being dominant
(D) electrostatic interaction being dominant
Explanation: Interactions between charged particles involve both electric and magnetic forces. When charges move, they generate magnetic fields, which influence nearby moving charges. In the case of electron beams moving in the same direction, both electrostatic repulsion and magnetic attraction are present simultaneously.
However, at low speeds, the magnetic effect is relatively weak compared to electrostatic repulsion. As a result, the dominant interaction is repulsive due to like charges, leading to separation rather than attraction. This contrasts with current-carrying wires where charge neutrality reduces electrostatic effects and magnetic forces dominate. The balance between these two interactions depends strongly on particle velocity and is an important concept in beam Physics and electromagnetism.
Option d – electrostatic interaction being dominant
When the current sensitivity of a galvanometer increases while the total resistance remains constant, the voltage sensitivity
(A) increases
(B) decreases
(C) stays the same
(D) becomes time-dependent
Explanation: A galvanometer’s current sensitivity represents how much deflection is produced per unit current. Voltage sensitivity depends on both current sensitivity and the internal resistance of the instrument. It is defined as the deflection per unit applied voltage, which relates current response to voltage input through resistance.
When current sensitivity increases while resistance remains unchanged, the device produces greater deflection for the same current input. Since voltage sensitivity is directly linked to how current response translates through resistance, an increase in current response leads to a proportional improvement in voltage responsiveness as well. This relationship is important in instrument design because it shows how electrical and mechanical parameters jointly determine overall measurement efficiency.
Option a – increases
For a coil to remain in equilibrium in a magnetic field, the angle between the area Vector and magnetic field should be
(A) 0°
(B) 90°
(C) 0° or 180°
(D) 180°
Explanation: A current-carrying coil in a magnetic field behaves like a magnetic dipole with a well-defined magnetic moment directed perpendicular to its plane, represented by the area Vector. When placed in a uniform magnetic field, the coil experiences a torque that depends on the angle between the magnetic moment (area Vector) and the field direction.
For equilibrium conditions, the coil must experience no NET turning effect. Torque is maximum when the angle is intermediate and becomes zero when the magnetic moment aligns either parallel or anti-parallel to the field. At these orientations, the coil is in a stable or unstable equilibrium depending on whether it resists or amplifies small disturbances. This principle is widely used in galvanometers, where equilibrium position determines the scale deflection corresponding to current flow.
Option c – 0° or 180°
A straight wire carrying 0.1 A remains suspended in air under the influence of a magnetic field of 0.5 T. If the linear Mass density of the wire is
(A) 1 kg/m
(B) 5.1 g/m
(C) 9.8 kg/m
(D) 9.8 g/m
Explanation: A current-carrying wire placed in a magnetic field experiences a force due to interaction between moving charges and the magnetic field. This force acts perpendicular to both current direction and magnetic field direction. When the wire is suspended without falling, the magnetic force must balance the gravitational force acting on the wire.
The gravitational force depends on Mass per unit length, while the magnetic force depends on current, magnetic field strength, and length of the wire segment considered. At equilibrium, these two effects cancel each other, resulting in a stable suspended state. This concept is important in understanding force balance in electromagnetic levitation and in designing systems where magnetic forces counteract weight. The key idea is the equilibrium between electromagnetic interaction and gravity.
Option b – 5.1 g/m
A coil with an area of 0.25 m² carries 4 A and is placed in a uniform magnetic field of 0.5 T. If the normal to the coil makes a 45° angle with the field, the torque acting on the coil is
(A) 0.028 N-m
(B) 0.138 N-m
(C) 0.24 N-m
(D) 0.35 N-m
Explanation: A current loop in a magnetic field experiences a rotational effect due to interaction between its magnetic dipole moment and the external field. The magnetic moment depends on current and area of the coil. The torque depends on both the strength of the magnetic field and the orientation of the coil relative to it.
When the normal to the coil is inclined, the effective torque depends on the sine of the angle between magnetic moment and field direction. This means maximum torque occurs when the coil is perpendicular to the field, while reduced torque occurs at intermediate angles. This principle is fundamental in galvanometers and electric motors, where rotational motion is produced and controlled using magnetic interactions.
Option d – 0.35 N-m
A galvanometer’s current sensitivity increases by 30% when its resistance is doubled. How does this affect its voltage sensitivity?
(A) Increases by 30%
(B) Decreases by 30%
(C) Decreases by 35%
(D) Increases by 50%
Explanation: Current sensitivity refers to the deflection produced per unit current, while voltage sensitivity depends on how that current response translates per unit applied voltage. Voltage sensitivity is influenced by both current sensitivity and internal resistance, since voltage is related to current through resistance.
When resistance increases, the same voltage produces less current, but if current sensitivity also increases, the instrument becomes more responsive to small current changes. The combined effect on voltage sensitivity depends on the ratio between these two factors. In this scenario, both parameters change simultaneously, and their combined influence determines whether the instrument becomes more or less responsive to voltage input. This reflects the interdependence of electrical and Mechanical Properties in precision measurement devices.
Option c – Decreases by 35%
To rotate a current-carrying circular loop placed flat on a horizontal surface about its vertical axis, a uniform magnetic field should be applied
(A) along the plane of the loop
(B) perpendicular to the plane of the loop
(C) at 45° to the vertical axis through the loop’s center
(D) none of these
Explanation: A current loop in a magnetic field experiences torque when there is a misalignment between its magnetic moment and the external field. The magnetic moment is perpendicular to the plane of the loop. Rotation occurs when the field exerts unequal forces on different segments of the loop, producing a turning effect about a specified axis.
To achieve rotation about a vertical axis, the magnetic field must be oriented in such a way that it creates tangential forces on the loop without canceling symmetry. The direction of the field determines whether the torque causes rotation around the desired axis or simply alignment. This principle is used in electric motors where controlled magnetic fields produce continuous rotational motion in coils.
Option d – none of these
A highly sensitive moving coil galvanometer responds with large deflection. To control the rate of its deflection
(A) place a magnet near the coil
(B) connect a high resistance across its terminals
(C) attach a small copper wire across its terminals
(D) ground the galvanometer’s body
Explanation: A moving coil galvanometer is highly responsive to small currents, meaning even slight inputs can produce large angular deflections. However, rapid or excessive deflection can make readings unstable or difficult to observe accurately. Controlling the rate of deflection is therefore important for measurement precision.
This control is achieved by introducing a mechanism that regulates current flow or damping effect, reducing sudden surges and allowing smoother motion of the coil. By managing the electrical or mechanical response, the pointer moves gradually instead of oscillating or jumping abruptly. This ensures stable readings and improves the accuracy of measurement instruments used in sensitive electrical experiments.
Option a – place a magnet near the coil
Three long straight wires are connected in parallel across a battery with negligible internal resistance. Their resistance ratio is 4 : 4 : 7. What should be the ratio of the middle wire’s distance from the others to ensure no NET force on it?
(A) 4 : 7
(B) 7 : 4
(C) 4 : 4
(D) 7 : 15
Explanation: Parallel current-carrying wires exert magnetic forces on each other due to interactions between their magnetic fields. The magnitude of force depends on the current in each wire and the distance between them. Wires carrying currents in the same direction attract each other, while opposite currents repel.
For a central wire to experience no NET force, the magnetic forces from the other two wires must balance. This requires a balance between current magnitudes (which depend on resistance in a parallel circuit) and their respective distances. The condition for equilibrium involves equal and opposite force contributions, leading to a specific geometric and electrical balance. This idea is important in understanding force equilibrium in multi-conductor systems used in transmission lines and electromagnetic arrangements.
Option b – 7 : 4
The working principle of a moving coil galvanometer is based on
(A) electric effect of current
(B) magnetic effect of current
(C) electromagnetic effect of current
(D) Peltier effect
Explanation: A moving coil galvanometer operates by converting electrical current into mechanical rotation. When current flows through a coil placed in a magnetic field, each segment of the coil experiences a force. These forces create a torque that rotates the coil.
The amount of rotation depends on current strength, number of turns, area of coil, and magnetic field strength. A restoring torque provided by a spring or suspension wire balances this magnetic torque, leading to a stable deflection proportional to current. This linear relationship allows precise measurement of small currents in electrical circuits. The device is widely used in laboratory instruments due to its sensitivity and accuracy.
Option b – magnetic effect of current
A conducting rod 10 cm long and weighing 50 g slides down a smooth inclined plane at 30° with a steady speed of 5 m/s. A 0.2 A current flows perpendicular into the page. Assuming a uniform upward magnetic field, calculate its strength (g = 10 m/s²)
(A) 8.9 T
(B) 11.6 T
(C) 13.6 T
(D) 14.4 T
Explanation: A current-carrying rod moving in a magnetic field experiences a force due to interaction between current and field. This force can oppose or assist motion depending on direction. In this situation, the rod moves with constant velocity, meaning NET force along the incline is zero.
The gravitational component along the incline is balanced by magnetic force produced due to current in the rod interacting with the magnetic field. Since velocity is steady, acceleration is zero, so forces must cancel exactly. The magnetic force depends on current, magnetic field strength, and length of the conductor. Equating this with the component of weight along the incline allows determination of the magnetic field magnitude. This principle is used in electromagnetic braking and force balance systems.
Option d – 14.4 T
Assertion: The Earth’s magnetic field does not affect the performance of a moving coil galvanometer. Reason: The galvanometer is housed in a soft iron case that shields it from external magnetic fields.
(A) Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason explains the assertion
(B) Both are true, but the reason does not explain the assertion
(C) Assertion is true, reason is false
(D) Assertion is false, reason is true
Explanation: A moving coil galvanometer is designed to respond only to controlled magnetic fields within its structure, ensuring accurate measurement of current. External magnetic fields like Earth’s field could potentially interfere with its operation by adding unwanted torque or disturbing the coil’s equilibrium position.
To prevent such interference, the instrument is enclosed in a shielding material that reduces the influence of external magnetic fields. Soft iron is commonly used because it provides a path for magnetic field lines, effectively redirecting them away from the sensitive coil region. This ensures that the internal magnetic field responsible for measurement remains dominant and stable. The relationship between shielding and environmental magnetic influence is important in precision instrumentation to maintain accuracy and repeatability of readings.
Option c – Assertion is true, reason is false
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