The force on a current-carrying wire is given by:

F = IL ´ B

Consider three wires carrying identical currents between two points a and b.

The wires are exposed to a uniform magnetic field.

Wire 1 goes directly from a to b. Wire 2 consists of two straight sections, one parallel to the magnetic field and one perpendicular to the field. Wire 3 takes a meandering path from a to b. Which wire experiences more force?

1. Wire 1
2. Wire 2
3. Wire 3
4. equal for all three