Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) Integrated Science (024) Practice Exam

When an electric current is passed through a conductor, how does the magnetic field behave?

1. It travels in a linear pattern

2. It forms concentric circles around the wire

3. It creates a static field

4. It dissipates into the surrounding area

The correct answer is: It forms concentric circles around the wire

When an electric current flows through a conductor, a magnetic field is generated around the wire due to the movement of electric charges. This phenomenon is described by Ampère's circuital law and is a fundamental principle of electromagnetism. The direction of the magnetic field lines is determined by the right-hand rule, where if you wrap your right hand around the wire with your thumb pointing in the direction of the current, your fingers will curl in the direction of the magnetic field lines. The magnetic field takes the form of concentric circles around the wire, indicating that the strength of the magnetic field decreases as the distance from the wire increases. This behavior is intrinsic to how electric currents interact with space around them and demonstrates the direct relationship between electricity and magnetism, which is central to many applications in physics and engineering. The other options do not accurately represent the behavior of magnetic fields generated by current-carrying conductors.