The rectangular current loop experiences no net force when in a uniform magnetic field, as the forces on opposing wire segments cancel out. If a current is introduced in the direction shown, each wire segment will experience a force in the same direction, causing the entire loop to rotate clockwise due to the right-hand rule. Therefore, the correct answer is that the loop will rotate clockwise.

1. ConcepTest PowerPoints
Chapter 20
Physics: Principles with
Applications, 6th edition
Giancoli
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2. ConcepTest 20.1a Magnetic Force I
A positive charge enters a 1) out of the page
uniform magnetic field as 2) into the page
shown. What is the direction 3) downwards
of the magnetic force? 4) to the right
5) to the left
x x x x x x
v
x x x x x x
x x x xq x x

3. ConcepTest 20.1a Magnetic Force I
A positive charge enters a 1) out of the page
uniform magnetic field as 2) into the page
shown. What is the direction 3) downwards
of the magnetic force? 4) to the right
5) to the left
Using the right-hand rule, you can
see that the magnetic force is x x x x x x
directed to the left. Remember v
x x x x x x
that the magnetic force must be
perpendicular to BOTH the B field
x xFx xq x x
and the velocity.

4. ConcepTest 20.1b Magnetic Force II
A positive charge enters a 1) out of the page
uniform magnetic field as 2) into the page
shown. What is the direction 3) downwards
of the magnetic force? 4) upwards
5) to the left
x x x x x x
x x x x vx x
q
x x x x x x

5. ConcepTest 20.1b Magnetic Force II
A positive charge enters a 1) out of the page
uniform magnetic field as 2) into the page
shown. What is the direction 3) downwards
of the magnetic force? 4) upwards
5) to the left
Using the right-hand rule, you can
see that the magnetic force is x x x x x x
directed upwards. Remember F
x x x x vx x
that the magnetic force must be q
perpendicular to BOTH the B field
x x x x x x
and the velocity.

6. ConcepTest 20.1c Magnetic Force III
A positive charge enters a 1) out of the page
uniform magnetic field as 2) into the page
shown. What is the direction 3) zero
of the magnetic force? 4) to the right
5) to the left


v

q


7. ConcepTest 20.1c Magnetic Force III
A positive charge enters a 1) out of the page
uniform magnetic field as 2) into the page
shown. What is the direction 3) zero
of the magnetic force? 4) to the right
5) to the left
Using the right-hand rule, you can 
see that the magnetic force is
directed into the page. Remember 
v
that the magnetic force must be 
perpendicular to BOTH the B field  q
F
and the velocity. 

8. ConcepTest 20.1d Magnetic Force IV
A positive charge enters a 1) out of the page
uniform magnetic field as 2) into the page
shown. What is the direction 3) zero
of the magnetic force? 4) to the right
5) to the left

v


q


9. ConcepTest 20.1d Magnetic Force IV
A positive charge enters a 1) out of the page
uniform magnetic field as 2) into the page
shown. What is the direction 3) zero
of the magnetic force? 4) to the right
5) to the left
The charge is moving parallel to 
the magnetic field, so it does not v
experience any magnetic force. 
Remember that the magnetic force 
q
is given by: F = v B sin(q) . F=0


10. ConcepTest 20.2 Atomic Beams
A beam of atoms enters x x x x x x x x x1 x x
x
a magnetic field region. x x x x x x x x x x x x
2
What path will the x x x x x x x x x x x x
atoms follow? x x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x x x x x 3
4
x x x x x x x x x x x x

11. ConcepTest 20.2 Atomic Beams
A beam of atoms enters x x x x x x x x x1 x x
x
a magnetic field region. x x x x x x x x x x x x
2
What path will the x x x x x x x x x x x x
atoms follow? x x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x x x x x 3
4
x x x x x x x x x x x x
Atoms are neutral objects whose net charge is zero.
Thus they do not experience a magnetic force.
Follow-up: What charge would follow path #3? What about path #1?

12. ConcepTest 20.3 Magnetic Field
1) + y
A proton beam enters into a
magnetic field region as shown 2) – y
below. What is the direction of 3) + x
the magnetic field B? 4) + z (out of page)
5) – z (into page)
y
x

13. ConcepTest 20.3 Magnetic Field
1) + y
A proton beam enters into a
magnetic field region as shown 2) – y
below. What is the direction of 3) + x
the magnetic field B? 4) + z (out of page)
5) – z (into page)
The picture shows the force acting
in the +y direction. Applying the y
right-hand rule leads to a B field
that points into the page. The B
field must be out of the plane x
because B  v and B  F.
Follow-up: What would happen to a beam of atoms?

14. ConcepTest 20.4a Mass Spectrometer I
x x x x x x x x x x x x
Two particles of the same mass x x x x x x x x x x x x
enter a magnetic field with the x x x x x x x x x x x x
same speed and follow the paths x x x x x x x x x x x x
shown. Which particle has the
x x x x x x x x x x x x
bigger charge?
x x x x x x x x x x x x
1 2
3) both charges are equal
4) impossible to tell from the picture

15. ConcepTest 20.4a Mass Spectrometer I
x x x x x x x x x x x x
Two particles of the same mass x x x x x x x x x x x x
enter a magnetic field with the x x x x x x x x x x x x
same speed and follow the paths x x x x x x x x x x x x
shown. Which particle has the
x x x x x x x x x x x x
bigger charge?
x x x x x x x x x x x x
1 2
3) both charges are equal
4) impossible to tell from the picture
The relevant equation for us is: mv
R
According to this equation, the qB
bigger the charge, the smaller the radius.
Follow-up: What is the sign of the charges in the picture?

16. ConcepTest 20.4b Mass Spectrometer II
A proton enters a uniform 1) it increases
magnetic field that is 2) it decreases
perpendicular to the
3) it stays the same
proton’s velocity. What
happens to the kinetic 4) depends on the velocity direction
energy of the proton? 5) depends on the B field direction
x x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x x x x x

17. ConcepTest 20.4b Mass Spectrometer II
A proton enters a uniform 1) it increases
magnetic field that is 2) it decreases
perpendicular to the
3) it stays the same
proton’s velocity. What
happens to the kinetic 4) depends on the velocity direction
energy of the proton? 5) depends on the B field direction
x x x x x x x x x x x x
The velocity of the proton
x x x x x x x x x x x x
changes direction but the
x x x x x x x x x x x x
magnitude (speed) doesn’t
x x x x x x x x x x x x
change. Thus the kinetic
energy stays the same. x x x x x x x x x x x x

18. ConcepTest 20.5 Velocity Selector
What direction would a B field 1) up (parallel to E )
have to point for a beam of 2) down (antiparallel to E )
electrons moving to the right to 3) into the page
go undeflected through a region
4) out of the page
where there is a uniform electric
5) impossible to accomplish
field pointing vertically upward?
E
B=?
electrons v

19. ConcepTest 20.5 Velocity Selector
What direction would a B field 1) up (parallel to E )
have to point for a beam of 2) down (antiparallel to E )
electrons moving to the right to 3) into the page
go undeflected through a region
4) out of the page
where there is a uniform electric
5) impossible to accomplish
field pointing vertically upward?
Without a B field, the electrons feel an E
electric force downwards. In order to
compensate, the magnetic force has to
point upwards. Using the right-hand B=?
rule and the fact that the electrons are
negatively charged leads to a B field electrons v
pointing out of the page.

20. ConcepTest 20.6a Magnetic Force on a Wire I
1) left
A horizontal wire carries a current
2) right
and is in a vertical magnetic field.
3) zero
What is the direction of the force
4) into the page
on the wire?
5) out of the page
I
B

21. ConcepTest 20.6a Magnetic Force on a Wire I
1) left
A horizontal wire carries a current
and is in a vertical magnetic field.
2) right
What is the direction of the force on 3) zero
the wire? 4) into the page
5) out of the page
Using the right-hand rule, we
see that the magnetic force
must point out of the page. I
Since F must be perpendicular
to both I and B, you should
realize that F cannot be in the B
plane of the page at all.

22. ConcepTest 20.6b Magnetic Force on a Wire II
A horizontal wire carries a current 1) left
2) right
and is in a vertical magnetic field.
3) zero
What is the direction of the force
4) into the page
on the wire?
5) out of the page
I
B

23. ConcepTest 20.6b Magnetic Force on a Wire II
A horizontal wire carries a current 1) left
and is in a vertical magnetic field. 2) right
What is the direction of the force on 3) zero
the wire? 4) into the page
5) out of the page
I
When the current is parallel to
the magnetic field lines, the force
on the wire is zero.
B

24. ConcepTest 20.7a Magnetic Force on a Loop I
1) + x
A rectangular current loop is
2) + y
in a uniform magnetic field.
3) zero
What is the direction of the
4) - x
net force on the loop?
5) - y
z B
y
x

25. ConcepTest 20.7a Magnetic Force on a Loop I
1) + x
A rectangular current loop is
2) + y
in a uniform magnetic field.
3) zero
What is the direction of the
4) - x
net force on the loop?
5) - y
Using the right-hand rule, we find that
each of the four wire segments will
experience a force outwards from the
center of the loop. Thus, the forces B
z
of the opposing segments cancel, so
the net force is zero.
y
x

26. ConcepTest 20.7b Magnetic Force on a Loop II
1) move up
If there is a current in
2) move down
the loop in the direction 3) rotate clockwise
shown, the loop will: 4) rotate counterclockwise
5) both rotate and move
B field out of North
B field into South
N S
S N

27. ConcepTest 20.7b Magnetic Force on a Loop II
1) move up
If there is a current in
2) move down
the loop in the direction 3) rotate clockwise
shown, the loop will: 4) rotate counterclockwise
5) both rotate and move
Look at the North Pole: here the F
magnetic field points to the right and
the current points out of the page. N S
The right-hand rule says that the force
must point up. At the south pole, the
same logic leads to a downward force. F
Thus the loop rotates clockwise.

28. ConcepTest 20.8a Magnetic Field of a Wire I
If the currents in these wires have 1) direction 1
the same magnitude, but opposite 2) direction 2
3) direction 3
directions, what is the direction of
4) direction 4
the magnetic field at point P?
5) the B field is zero
1
P
4 2
3

29. ConcepTest 20.8a Magnetic Field of a Wire I
If the currents in these wires have 1) direction 1
the same magnitude, but opposite 2) direction 2
3) direction 3
directions, what is the direction of
4) direction 4
the magnetic field at point P?
5) the B field is zero
1
P
Using the right-hand rule, we
can sketch the B fields due 4 2
to the two currents. Adding
3
them up as vectors gives a
total magnetic field pointing
downward.

30. ConcepTest 20.8b Magnetic Field of a Wire II
Each of the wires in the figures 1) arrangement 1
below carry the same current,
either into or out of the page. 2) arrangement 2
In which case is the magnetic 3) arrangement 3
field at the center of the square 4) same for all
greatest?
1 B=? 2 B=? 3 B=?

31. ConcepTest 20.8b Magnetic Field of a Wire II
Each of the wires in the figures 1) arrangement 1
below carry the same current,
either into or out of the page. 2) arrangement 2
In which case is the magnetic 3) arrangement 3
field at the center of the square 4) same for all
greatest?
1 2 3

32. ConcepTest 20.9a Field and Force I
A positive charge moves parallel 1) + z (out of page)
to a wire. If a current is suddenly 2) - z (into page)
turned on, which direction will the 3) + x
force act? 4) - x
5) - y
y
+q I
x
z

33. ConcepTest 20.9a Field and Force I
A positive charge moves parallel 1) + z (out of page)
to a wire. If a current is suddenly 2) - z (into page)
turned on, which direction will the 3) + x
force act? 4) - x
5) - y
Using the right-hand rule to determine the
magnetic field produced by the wire, we
find that at the position of the charge +q
(to the left of the wire) the B field points
y
out of the page. Applying the right-hand +q I
rule again for the magnetic force on the
charge, we find that +q experiences a force
in the +x direction. x
z

34. ConcepTest 20.9b Field and Force II
Two straight wires run parallel to
1) toward each other
each other, each carrying a
current in the direction shown 2) away from each other
below. The two wires experience 3) there is no force
a force in which direction?

35. ConcepTest 20.9b Field and Force II
Two straight wires run parallel to
1) toward each other
each other, each carrying a
current in the direction shown 2) away from each other
below. The two wires experience 3) there is no force
a force in which direction?
The current in each wire produces a magnetic
field that is felt by the current of the other
wire. Using the right-hand rule, we find that
each wire experiences a force toward the
other wire (i.e., an attractive force) when the
currents are parallel (as shown).
Follow-up: What happens when
one of the currents is turned off?

36. ConcepTest 20.10 Current Loop
1) left
What is the direction of the
2) right
magnetic field at the center
3) zero
(point P) of the square loop
4) into the page
of current?
5) out of the page
I
P

37. ConcepTest 20.10 Current Loop
1) left
What is the direction of the
2) right
magnetic field at the center
3) zero
(point P) of the square loop
4) into the page
of current?
5) out of the page
Use the right-hand rule for each
wire segment to find that each I
segment has its B field pointing
out of the page at point P.
P