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 torque acting on the loop.

Step-by-step solution

Area of the rectangular loop, A = 20 cm 10 cm = 0.2 m 0.1 m = 0.02 m ^2 Magnetic dipole moment of the loop, M = I A = 5.0 0.02 = 0.1 A m ^2 The magnetic field B is parallel to the longer side, meaning it lies in the plane of the loop. The magnetic moment M is perpendicular to the plane of the loop. Therefore, the angle between M and B is 90^ . Magnitude of torque, = M B (90^ ) = 0.1 0.20 1 = 0.02 N m The direction of torque is given by = M B . Since M is perpendicular to the loop's plane and B is parallel to the lo