Force on a Current Carrying Wire
Students use a simple experimental setup consisting of a current-carrying wire and a magnet to explore the forces that enable biomedical imaging. In doing so, they run a current through a wire and then hold magnets in various positions to establish and explore the magnetic force acting on the wire. They move the magnets and change the current in the wire to explore how the force changes. They students apply what they have learned during the experiment to the challenge to create a safe working environment around MRI machines.
An MRI machine uses magnetic force to make images of the human body.Copyright 2009 Celebration Health, Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Seaside_Imaging_Center_MRI.jpg
An MRI machine uses magnetic force to make images of the human body. In the lab, we explore this magnetic force and its properties. In assessment questions 4 and 5, students are asked to apply what they have learned during the experiment to create a safe environment around MRI machines, which are the kinds of question engineers consider in the products they create.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Predict and test the direction of the magnetic force on a current-carrying wire.
- Predict and test the effects of switching the direction of the current in the wire.