Direction of Magnetic Field

The direction of the magnetic field around a current-carrying wire can be determined using the right-hand rule. According to this rule, if you point your thumb in the direction of the current flow, then the direction in which your fingers curl represents the direction of the magnetic field.

Current Flowing Downward

In this scenario, the current is flowing vertically downward through the wire. Let's analyze the direction of the magnetic field at a point just to the right side of the wire.

Magnetic Field Direction

To determine the direction of the magnetic field, we can use the right-hand rule. If we wrap our right-hand fingers around the wire in the direction of the current (which is downward), our thumb will point towards the inside of the wire. This means that the magnetic field lines will form concentric circles around the wire.

Direction Relative to the Wire

Now, let's consider the point to the right of the wire. Since the magnetic field lines form concentric circles around the wire, the direction of the magnetic field at this point will be perpendicular to the wire. It will point out of the plane of the paper or screen if we are looking at it from the top.

Summary

To summarize, when a current is flowing in a vertical wire in a downward direction, the magnetic field at a point just to the right of the wire will be perpendicular to the wire. It will point out of the plane of the paper or screen if we are looking at it from the top. This can be determined using the right-hand rule, where wrapping our right-hand fingers around the wire in the direction of the current will indicate the direction of the magnetic field.

Practice the Right hand rule