Show Me The Physics

Current & Compass Needles

Change the current through a wire and watch nearby compasses respond, seen from above and from the side at the same time.

Make a predictionWhich compass will change direction the most when you turn up the current? Decide before you enter.
N
Challenge 1 of 3
Turn the top compass at least 35° away from north.
Try it
Top view: compasses around a current carrying wire Eight compass needles around a wire, seen from directly above. Change current to observe their direction. WIRE No current N TOP VIEW
Side view from the upper right The same wire standing vertically through a tabletop, with the eight compasses lying flat around it. Drag to rotate the view. N WIRE No current SIDE VIEW · FROM UPPER RIGHT Drag to rotate
0.0 A
Red needle tip points northward