Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor in a

Contents & notes: what this topic covers

Under Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor in a, the JAMB Physics syllabus expects you to study:

• 34. Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor in a Magnetic Field
• (i) quantitative treatment of force between two parallel current-carrying conductors;
• (ii) force on a charge moving in a magnetic field;
• (iii) the d. c. motor;
• (iv) electromagnets;
• (v) carbon microphone;
• (vi) moving coil and moving iron instruments;
• (viii) conversion of galvanometers to ammeters and voltmeter using shunts and multipliers;
• (ix) sensitivity of a galvanometer.
• vii.
• viii 35. (a) Electromagnetic Induction Cand i.
• (i) Faraday’s laws of electromagnetic induction;
• (ii) Lenz’s law as an illustration of the
• principle of conservation of energy; the
• (iii) factors affecting induced emf;
• (iv) a.c. and d.c generators;
• (v) transformers;
• (vi) the induction coil.
• v.
• (b) Inductance vi.
• (i) explanation of inductance;
• (ii) unit of inductance; vii.
• (iii) energy stored in an inductor: coil 1 viii E=2 I2L
• (iv) application/uses of inductors.
• ix.
• x. r
• (c) Eddy Current
• (i) reduction of eddy current
• (ii) applications of eddy current
• (iii) effects of eddy current xiii
• xv.

Study notes & guidance

Study Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor in a using a recommended Physics textbook that follows the JAMB syllabus. Work through the contents listed above one by one, make brief notes in your own words, and then practise as many questions on this topic as you can — in Physics, understanding and steady practice matter far more than memorising. Use the objectives below as a checklist: if you can do each one confidently, you have mastered this topic.

Objectives — candidates should be able to

After studying Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor in a, you should be able to:

1. Determine the direction of force on a current carrying conductor using Fleming’s left-hand rule;
2. Interpret the attractive and repulsive forces between two parallel current- carrying conductors using diagrams;
3. Determine the relationship between the force, magnetic field strength, velocity and the angle through which the charge enters the field;
4. Interpret the working of the d. c. motor;
5. Analyse the principle of electromagnets and give examples of its application;
6. Compare moving iron and moving coil instruments; convert a galvanometer into an ammeter or a voltmeter;
7. Identify the factors affecting the sensitivity of a galvanometer. idates should be able to: nterpret the laws of electromagnetic induction; identify factors affecting induced emf; recognize how Lenz’s law illustrates principle of conservation of energy; interpret the diagrammatic set up of A. C. generators; dentify the types of transformer; examine principles of operation of transformers; assess the functions of an induction ;
8. Draw some conclusions from the principles of operation of an induction coil; interpret the inductance of an inductor; ecognize units of inductance; calculate the effective total inductance in series and parallel arrangement; deduce the expression for the energy stored in an inductor;
9. Examine the applications of inductors; describe the method by which eddy current losses can be reduced; determine ways by which eddy currents can be used.

These objectives are from the official JAMB syllabus. Use them as a checklist — if you can do each one confidently, you have mastered this topic.

Source: official JAMB UTME Physics syllabus (IBASS, jamb.gov.ng). Reproduced for study use. Last checked: 17 Sept 2026. Always confirm the current syllabus on the official portal.