What is the shape of the magnetic field that surrounds a current carrying wire?

Answer 1

The shape of the magnetic field created by current flow in a wire will be circular around the wire. The magnetic lines of force "surround" or "wrap around" the wire according to the left hand rule. Grab the wire with your left hand with your thumb extended and pointing in the direction the electrons are flowing. The fingers will be wrapping around the wire in the direction of the magnetic field. Look at the wire "head on" and picture the electrons "coming at you" as you look. The magnetic lines of force will circle around the wire in a clockwise direction. Grab the wire with your left hand as you look "into" that wire and look at your fingers. Clockwise. The magnetic lines of force "circle" the conductor in closed rings. temptress_skkk: In my textbook, it says the "right-hand rule" instead of the "left-hand rule" but it's basically the same thing, only the current is going the opposite way with your right hand instead of your left hand being in its place. it is the right hand rule of thumb not the left hand. and the magnetics line will fade as the square of the distance.