A long straight wire is held vertically and carries a steady current in the upward direction. The shape of the

Question

Q. A long straight wire is held vertically and carries a steady current in the upward direction. The shape of the magnetic field lines produced by the current-carrying wire are: (A) horizontal straight lines directed radially out from the wire. (B) straight lines parallel to the current-carrying wire. (C) concentric horizontal circles around the wire. (D) coaxial helixes around the wire.

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Concept understanding — Magnetic Field of a Straight Wire

Magnetic Field of a Straight Wire

A long, straight wire carrying a steady current $I$ sets up a magnetic field that circles around it. If the current flows upward, the field lines form concentric circles in planes perpendicular to the wire — stronger close to the wire, weaker farther away. This circular pattern comes from adding up the field contributions of every moving charge in the wire, and it is the simplest current-generated field — the starting point for solenoids, toroids, and electromagnets later in the chapter.

Direction: the right-hand rule

Grip the wire with your right hand, thumb pointing along the current. Your curled fingers show the direction the field circles — clockwise when viewed along the current's direction, counter-clockwise viewed against it.

The formula

For a long straight wire, the field magnitude at a perpendicular distance $r$ from the wire is:

B = \frac{\mu_0 I}{2\pi r}

where $\mu_0 = 4\pi \times 10^{-7}\ \text{T·m/A}$ is the permeability of free space. This follows from Ampere's circuital law applied to a circular Amperian loop of radius $r$ centred on the wire, over which $B$ is constant by symmetry:

\oint \vec{B}\cdot d\vec{l} = B(2\pi r) = \mu_0 I_{\text{enclosed}}

Why it behaves this way

Proportional to $I$ : more current means more moving charge, so a proportionally stronger field.
Falls off as $1/r$ , not $1/r^2$ : the same total field "spreads" around a circle of circumference $2\pi r$ , so it thins out as $r$ grows — double the distance, half the field. An infinite line source falls off more slowly than a point charge's $1/r^2$ electric field.

Watch out

This formula assumes an infinitely long wire (or a point close enough that the ends are effectively far away). Near the actual ends of a finite wire, the field is weaker and must be found from the Biot–Savart law directly.

Worked example

A wire carries $I = 5\ \text{A}$ . Find $B$ at $r = 2\ \text{cm} = 0.02\ \text{m}$ .

$B = \frac{\mu_0 I}{2\pi r} = \frac{\mu_0}{2\pi}\times\frac{I}{r} = (2\times10^{-7})\times\frac{5}{0.02} = 5\times10^{-5}\ \text{T}$ …

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The magnetic field around a long straight current-carrying wire forms concentric circles in a plane perpendicular to the wire. For a vertical wire with upward current, the field lines are horizontal circles centered on the wire — so the correct option is (C).

Concept and Intuition

The magnetic field due to a steady current is governed by the Biot–Savart law and Ampere’s circuital law. For a long straight wire, symmetry tells us the field must be the same at all points at a given distance from the wire, and must point in a direction perpendicular to both the wire and the radial line from the wire to the point. This is the classic “right-hand thumb rule”: if you point your thumb along the current direction, your fingers curl in the direction of the magnetic field lines.

Since the wire is vertical and current flows upward, the field lines lie in horizontal planes — they are circles centered on the wire. Let’s see why each option stands or falls.

Step-by-step reasoning

Identify the symmetry of the problem

The wire is infinitely long (or very long compared to the region of interest) and straight. The system has cylindrical symmetry: the field at a distance $r$ from the wire depends only on $r$ , not on the angle around the wire or the height along it (except near the ends, which we ignore). This immediately rules out any field that varies with angle in a non-circular way.
Apply the right-hand thumb rule

Point your right thumb straight up (direction of current). Your fingers naturally curl around the wire in a horizontal plane. This means the magnetic field vector $\vec{B}$ at any point is tangent to a circle centered on the wire, lying in a plane perpendicular to the wire. The field lines are therefore concentric circles in horizontal planes.
Check each option
- (A) Horizontal straight lines directed radially out from the wire — This would mean $\vec{B}$ points directly away from the wire. But the Biot–Savart law gives $\vec{B}$ perpendicular to both the current and the radial vector, so radial fields are impossible for a straight wire. Also, magnetic field lines form closed loops; radial lines would have to start or end on the wire, which magnetic field lines never do (no magnetic monopoles).
- (B) Straight lines parallel to the current-carrying wire — That would mean $\vec{B}$ points vertically, same as the current. But the cross product in Biot–Savart ( $d\vec{B} \propto I\,d\vec{l} \times \hat{r}$ ) gives a direction perpendicular to $d\vec{l}$ (the current element), so $\vec{B}$ cannot be parallel to the wire.
- (C) Concentric horizontal circles around the wire — Exactly matches the right-hand rule and Ampere’s law. The field magnitude is $B = \frac{\mu_0 I}{2\pi r}$ , constant on each circle. This is correct. …

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Same / Similar Concept — real previous-year questions on the same or a closely similar concept, not this exact question.

CBSE 2026Set 55/2/11 markMCQ
$y$
›Reveal solutionSolution
The field of a straight wire at a point is along $\hat{I} \times \hat{r}$ . With the current along $-\hat{j}$ and the point on the positive $x$ -axis ( $\hat{r} = +\hat{i}$ ), this gives $(-\hat{j}) \times \hat{i} = +\hat{k}$ — the field points along the $z$ -axis, option (A).

Concept: the field circles the wire

A long straight current-carrying wire produces a magnetic field whose lines are concentric circles around the wire. At any point, $\vec{B}$ is tangent to the circle through that point — perpendicular both to the wire and to the radial line from the wire to the point. So at a point on the $x$ -axis, with the wire along the $y$ -axis, the field must lie along $\pm\hat{k}$ ; only the sign remains to be fixed, and the right-hand rule (or equivalently the Biot–Savart cross product) fixes it.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the directions.

The wire lies along the $y$ -axis with current $I = 1\ \text{A}$ in the $-y$ direction, so $\hat{I} = -\hat{j}$ . The field point $(50\ \text{cm}, 0, 0)$ is on the positive $x$ -axis, so the unit vector from the wire to the point is $\hat{r} = +\hat{i}$ .

Apply the Biot–Savart direction rule.

The direction of the field is that of $\hat{I} \times \hat{r}$ :

$(-\hat{j}) \times (\hat{i}) = -(\hat{j} \times \hat{i}) = -(-\hat{k}) = +\hat{k},$
using $\hat{i} \times \hat{j} = +\hat{k}$ , hence $\hat{j} \times \hat{i} = -\hat{k}$ . The field points along the positive $z$ -axis.

Confirm with a known reference case. For a current along $+y$ , the field at a point on the $+x$ -axis is along $\hat{j} \times \hat{i} = -\hat{k}$ . Our current is reversed ( $-y$ ), so the field there simply reverses too: $+\hat{k}$ . Both routes agree. …
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CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQ
$Q. In the figure shown below, a compass needle is placed under the wire. The wire is aligned in the South-North direction. When a current is made to flow through the wire from S to N, the needle will$
(a) deflect to the right
(b) deflect to the left
(c) turn $180^\circ$
(d) remain unaffected
›Reveal solutionSolution

By the right-hand (thumb) rule, the magnetic field produced by a current flowing from South to North, at a point directly below the wire, points towards the West — so the compass needle (normally pointing North) deflects towards the West, i.e. to the left, when viewed in the conventional map orientation (North at top, East to the right).

Setting up directions

Take the standard compass/map convention: North $=+\hat y$ , East $=+\hat x$ , Up (vertically, away from the ground) $=+\hat z$ . This is a right-handed set: $\hat x\times\hat y=\hat z$ .

The wire is aligned along the North–South line and carries current from S to N, i.e. the current direction is $\hat I = +\hat y$ (Northward).

The compass needle sits directly below the wire — i.e. at a point displaced from the wire in the $-\hat z$ direction (vertically downward, towards the ground).

Applying the Biot–Savart / right-hand rule

For an infinite straight current-carrying wire, the magnetic field at a point is directed along $\hat I \times \hat r$ , where $\hat r$ is the unit vector from the wire to the field point.

Here $\hat r = -\hat z$ (point is directly below the wire), so:

$\vec B \ \propto\ \hat I\times\hat r = \hat y\times(-\hat z) = -(\hat y\times\hat z) = -\hat x$

Since $+\hat x=$ East, $-\hat x=$ West. So the magnetic field produced by the wire, at the point directly below it, points towards the West.

Effect on the compass needle

…

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CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQ
$2r$
(a) $\dfrac{\mu_0 I}{r}$
(b) $\dfrac{4\mu_0 I}{r}$
(c) zero
(d) $\dfrac{\mu_0 I}{4r}$
›Reveal solutionSolution
At the midpoint between two parallel wires carrying equal currents in the same direction, each wire's field has equal magnitude but the right-hand rule shows the two fields point in opposite directions there — so they cancel and the net field is zero.

Setup

Two long, straight, parallel wires, separated by $2r$ , each carrying the same current $I$ in the same direction. Consider the point exactly midway between them — a distance $r$ from each wire.

Field due to each wire

For an infinite straight wire, the field at perpendicular distance $r$ has magnitude

$B=\frac{\mu_0 I}{2\pi r}$

directed in circles around the wire (by the right-hand rule — point the thumb along the current, fingers curl in the direction of $\vec B$ ).

So each wire, individually, produces a field of the same magnitude $\dfrac{\mu_0 I}{2\pi r}$ at the midpoint (since both are the same distance $r$ from it and carry the same current $I$ ).

Direction of each field at the midpoint

Let the two wires be parallel to each other, both carrying current in (say) the $+\hat z$ direction, with wire 1 at $x=0$ and wire 2 at $x=2r$ ; the midpoint is at $x=r$ .

For wire 1, the midpoint lies in the $+\hat x$ direction from the wire. By the right-hand rule ( $\vec B \propto \hat I\times\hat r$ ), $\hat z\times\hat x=\hat y$ , so $\vec B_1$ points in $+\hat y$ . …
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CBSE 2025Set 55/4/11 markMCQ
$Q. A long straight wire is held vertically and carries a steady current in the upward direction. The shape of the magnetic field lines produced by the current-carrying wire are: (A) horizontal straight lines directed radially out from the wire. (B) straight lines parallel to the current-carrying wire. (C) concentric horizontal circles around the wire. (D) coaxial helixes around the wire.$
›Reveal solutionSolution
The magnetic field around a long straight current-carrying wire forms concentric circles in a plane perpendicular to the wire. For a vertical wire with upward current, the field lines are horizontal circles centered on the wire — so the correct option is (C).

Concept and Intuition

The magnetic field due to a steady current is governed by the Biot–Savart law and Ampere’s circuital law. For a long straight wire, symmetry tells us the field must be the same at all points at a given distance from the wire, and must point in a direction perpendicular to both the wire and the radial line from the wire to the point. This is the classic “right-hand thumb rule”: if you point your thumb along the current direction, your fingers curl in the direction of the magnetic field lines.

Since the wire is vertical and current flows upward, the field lines lie in horizontal planes — they are circles centered on the wire. Let’s see why each option stands or falls.

Step-by-step reasoning

Identify the symmetry of the problem

The wire is infinitely long (or very long compared to the region of interest) and straight. The system has cylindrical symmetry: the field at a distance $r$ from the wire depends only on $r$ , not on the angle around the wire or the height along it (except near the ends, which we ignore). This immediately rules out any field that varies with angle in a non-circular way.

Apply the right-hand thumb rule

Point your right thumb straight up (direction of current). Your fingers naturally curl around the wire in a horizontal plane. This means the magnetic field vector $\vec{B}$ at any point is tangent to a circle centered on the wire, lying in a plane perpendicular to the wire. The field lines are therefore concentric circles in horizontal planes.

Check each option

(A) Horizontal straight lines directed radially out from the wire — This would mean $\vec{B}$ points directly away from the wire. But the Biot–Savart law gives $\vec{B}$ perpendicular to both the current and the radial vector, so radial fields are impossible for a straight wire. Also, magnetic field lines form closed loops; radial lines would have to start or end on the wire, which magnetic field lines never do (no magnetic monopoles).

(B) Straight lines parallel to the current-carrying wire — That would mean $\vec{B}$ points vertically, same as the current. But the cross product in Biot–Savart ( $d\vec{B} \propto I\,d\vec{l} \times \hat{r}$ ) gives a direction perpendicular to $d\vec{l}$ (the current element), so $\vec{B}$ cannot be parallel to the wire.

(C) Concentric horizontal circles around the wire — Exactly matches the right-hand rule and Ampere’s law. The field magnitude is $B = \frac{\mu_0 I}{2\pi r}$ , constant on each circle. This is correct. …
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CBSE 2025Set X11 markMCQ
$Q. The following table lists magnetic fields due to different current configurations. Column - I lists the current configurations and Column - II lists expressions for magnetic fields. Symbols have usual meanings. Column - I$
i) At a distance $r$ from an infinitely long straight wire.
ii) At the centre of a circular current loop of radius $r$ .
iii) At the centre of a current carrying solenoid. Column – II p) $B = \mu_0 nI$ q) $B = \dfrac{\mu_0 I}{2r}$ r) $B = \dfrac{\mu_0 I}{2\pi r}$ Match the current configurations in Column – I with the correct magnetic field expressions in Column – II.
(a)
(i) – (p),
(ii) – (q),
(iii) – (r)
(b)
(i) – (r),
(ii) – (q),
(iii) – (p)
(c)
(i) – (r),
(ii) – (p),
(iii) – (q)
(d)
(i) – (q),
(ii) – (r),
(iii) – (p)
›Reveal solutionSolution

(b) (i) – (r), (ii) – (q), (iii) – (p). Straight wire $\to \dfrac{\mu_0 I}{2\pi r}$ (r); circular-loop centre $\to \dfrac{\mu_0 I}{2r}$ (q); solenoid $\to \mu_0 n I$ (p). …

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CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 mark
$Q. Write the dimensional formula of magnetic permeability (μ).$
›Reveal solutionSolution
Deriving μ from the force law between two current-carrying wires gives the dimensional formula [M L T⁻² A⁻²].

The force per unit length between two long parallel current-carrying wires (carrying currents I_1, I_2, separated by distance d) is:

F/L = μ I_1 I_2 / (2π d)

So μ = 2π d (F/L) / (I_1 I_2). We find the dimensions of each quantity on the right:

F (force) has dimensions [M L T⁻²]

d and L (lengths) have dimensions [L]

I_1, I_2 (currents) have dimensions [A]

Substituting:

…
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CBSE 2023Set ANNUAL1 markMCQ
$Q. Magnetic effect of current was discovered by :$
(a) Faraday
(b) Oersted
(c) Ampere
(d) Bohr
›Reveal solutionSolution

Hans Christian Oersted discovered the magnetic effect of current.

In 1820 Oersted noticed that a compass needle near a current-carrying wire deflected, showing that an electric current produces a magnetic field. This observation, foundational to the NCERT/CBSE Cl …

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CBSE 2022Set ANNUAL1 markMCQ
$Q. In the figure given below, if B is the magnetic field produced by individual wire, current in each wire being the same, then the resultant magnetic field at O in the two cases will be:$
(a) zero in both cases
(b) 2B in both cases
(c) zero in case-I and 2B in case-II
(d) zero in case-II and 2B in case-I
›Reveal solutionSolution
At a point equidistant from two parallel current-carrying wires, the individual fields either cancel or add depending on the current directions and O's position relative to the wires.

For two long straight parallel wires each carrying the same current I, each produces a field of magnitude B at point O (equidistant from both wires).

When the geometry is such that the two individual fields at O point in opposite directions (as happens, for example, when O lies symmetrically between two wires carrying current in the same direction), they cancel: resultant = zero. …
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CBSE 2021Set ANNUAL1 markMCQ
$Q. A current flows in a conductor from east to west. The direction of the magnetic field at a point above the conductor is -$
(a) towards west
(b) towards south
(c) towards east
(d) towards north
›Reveal solutionSolution

Using the right-hand rule for a current flowing west, the field directly above the wire points north.

Take east = $\hat{x}$ , north = $\hat{y}$ , up = $\hat{z}$ (a right-handed set, since east × north = up). The current flows east to west, i.e. along $-\hat{x}$ .

Grip the wire with the right hand, thumb pointing west (direction of current). The fingers curl to show the field direction. At a point directly above the wire, this curl points towards north.

…

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CBSE 2020Set ANNUAL1 markMCQ
$Q. The shape of the magnetic lines of force due to an infinite, long, straight current-carrying conductor is$
(i) straight line
(ii) circular
(iii) elliptical
(iv) None of the above
›Reveal solutionSolution

The magnetic field lines of an infinite straight current-carrying wire are concentric circles around the wire, in a plane perpendicular to it.

For an infinitely long, straight conductor carrying current $I$ , the magnetic field at a perpendicular distance $r$ from the wire has magnitude:

$B = \frac{\mu_0 I}{2\pi r}$

…

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CBSE 2020Set ANNUAL1 mark
$Q. Write the name of any two rules to find the direction of magnetic field.$
›Reveal solutionSolution

Two standard rules used to find the direction of the magnetic field produced by a current: the Right-Hand Thumb Rule and Maxwell's Cork-Screw Rule.

1. Right-Hand Thumb Rule (Right-Hand Grip Rule): If a current-carrying conductor is held in the right hand such that the thumb points in the direction of current flow, the direction in which the fingers curl around the conductor gives the direction of the magnetic field lines around it.

…

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CBSE 2020Set ANNUAL1 markMCQ
$Q. Magnetic field at any point at a distance R due to a long straight conductor carrying current varies as :$
(a) $R^2$
(b) R
(c) $\dfrac{1}{R^2}$
(d) $\dfrac{1}{R}$
›Reveal solutionSolution

By Ampere's circuital law, the field of an infinite straight current-carrying wire is $B=\mu_0I/(2\pi R)$ , which is inversely proportional to the distance $R$ .

Working

Applying Ampere's circuital law to a circular Amperian loop of radius $R$ centred on a long straight wire carrying current $I$ (by symmetry, $B$ is uniform in magnitude around the loop and tangential to it): …

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Concept and Intuition

Step-by-step reasoning

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