By using a compass to measure the magnetic field direction at various points adjacent to a long straight wire, you can show that the wire's magnetic field lines are
A) straight lines in space that go from one magnetic charge to another.
B) straight lines in space that are parallel to the wire.
C) straight lines in space that are perpendicular to the wire.
D) circles that have their centers on the wire and lie in planes perpendicular to the wire.
E) circles that have the wire lying along a diameter of the circle.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The magnetic field lines around a long straight wire form concentric circles with their centers on the wire. This is described by the right-hand rule, where if the thumb points in the direction of the current, the curled fingers show the direction of the magnetic field lines around the wire.

By Using a Compass to Measure the Magnetic Field Direction