A rectangular loop with sides of 20 cm and 10 cm carries a current of 5.0 A . A uniform magnetic field of magnitude 0.20 T is present, directed parallel to the longer side of the loop. Determine the net force acting on the loop.

Step-by-step solution

The net magnetic force on any closed current-carrying loop placed in a uniform magnetic field is always zero. The net force is given by F _ net = I(d l B ) . Since the magnetic field B is uniform, it can be taken out of the integral: F _ net = I( d l ) B For any closed loop, the vector sum of all length elements is zero, i.e., d l = 0 . Therefore, F _ net = 0 . Alternatively, the forces on the two longer sides are zero as they are parallel to the magnetic field. The forces on the two shorter sides are equal in magn