Free Electromagnetism MCQs with Answers

1,176 Electromagnetism MCQs from Physics, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.

Magnetic flux density and magnetic flux describe the strength of a magnetic field and the field passing through a surface. A charged particle moving through a magnetic field experiences a force perpendicular to its velocity and may follow circular or helical motion, depending on the angle between velocity and field.

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1,176 questions · page 19 of 59

  • A. 4π x 10⁷ Wb A⁻¹ m⁻¹
  • B. 4π x 10⁷ Wb A m⁻¹
  • C. 4π x 10⁻⁷ Wb A⁻¹ m
  • D. 4π x 10⁻⁷ Wb A⁻¹ m⁻¹

Explanation: μ₀ is the permeability of free space, a fundamental constant in electromagnetism.

Correct answer: 4π x 10⁻⁷ Wb A⁻¹ m⁻¹
  • A. The positive y direction
  • B. Into the page
  • C. The negative y direction
  • D. Out of the page

Explanation: The electric force on a negative electron is opposite to the E-field, so it's in the +y direction.

Correct answer: Into the page
  • A. Half
  • B. Remain same
  • C. Double
  • D. Zero

Explanation: Charge-to-mass ratio (e/m) of electron is fundamental constant property of particle itself.

Correct answer: Remain same
  • A. Zero
  • B. Up
  • C. Down
  • D. East

Explanation: The magnetic force on a charged particle is given by F = qvB sin(θ), where θ is the angle between the velocity and the magnetic field.

Correct answer: Zero
  • A. Circles that are concentric with the wire
  • B. Opposite to the direction of the current
  • C. Radially outward from the wire
  • D. Radially inward towards the wire

Explanation: The magnetic field lines created by a current in a long, straight wire form concentric circles in a plane perpendicular to the wire.

Correct answer: Circles that are concentric with the wire
  • A. Tends to get shorter
  • B. Tends to rotate about its axis
  • C. Tends to get longer
  • D. Produces a zero magnetic field at its center

Explanation: A helical coil (solenoid) can be seen as a stack of parallel current loops.

Correct answer: Tends to get shorter
  • A. The proton will deflect more
  • B. Both will deflect equally
  • C. The electron will deflect more
  • D. They will not deflect at all

Explanation: The radius of the circular path of a charged particle in a magnetic field is given by r = p/(qB), where p is the momentum.

Correct answer: Both will deflect equally
  • A. Circular path
  • B. Elliptical path
  • C. Closed path
  • D. Spherical path

Explanation: An Amperean path (or loop) is any imaginary closed path used in the application of Ampere's Law.

Correct answer: Closed path
  • A. Magnetic field strength
  • B. Magnetic flux density
  • C. Magnetic induction
  • D. All of these

Explanation: Ampere's circuital law relates the line integral of the magnetic field around a closed loop to the total current passing through that…

Correct answer: All of these
  • A. An electric field only
  • B. A magnetic field only
  • C. Both an electric and a magnetic field
  • D. No such field at all

Explanation: A stationary charge produces only an electric field. However, when a charge moves with a constant velocity, it constitutes a steady…

Correct answer: Both an electric and a magnetic field
  • A. Front part
  • B. Back part
  • C. Left wingtip
  • D. Right wingtip

Explanation: Let +x = East, +y = North, +z = Up. Plane velocity v = South = −y. B = Down = −z.v × B = (−y) × (−z) = +x (East).

Correct answer: Right wingtip
  • A. F must be perpendicular to v but not necessarily to B
  • B. F must be perpendicular to B but not necessarily to v
  • C. v must be perpendicular to B but not necessarily to F
  • D. F must be perpendicular to both v and B

Explanation: The formula describes a vector cross product. A fundamental property of the cross product is that the resulting vector (F) is always…

Correct answer: F must be perpendicular to both v and B
  • A. It will not move
  • B. At an acute angle with the direction of current
  • C. Perpendicular to the direction of current
  • D. In the direction of current

Explanation: The force on a current-carrying wire in a magnetic field is given by F = ILBsinθ, where θ is the angle between the current and the field.

Correct answer: It will not move
  • A. North
  • B. South
  • C. East
  • D. West

Explanation: Use right-hand rule: thumb current (west), fingers → magnetic field. At a point north of the wire, the field points south.

Correct answer: South
  • A. R
  • B. 1/R
  • C. 1/R2
  • D. 1/R3

Explanation: According to Ampere's Law, the magnetic field (B) created by a long, straight wire is given by the formula B = μ₀I / (2πR).

Correct answer: 1/R
  • A. AC Current
  • B. Pulsating DC current
  • C. DC Current
  • D. All of these

Explanation: Any movement of charge creates a magnetic field. Direct current (DC), alternating current (AC), and pulsating DC all involve the movement…

Correct answer: All of these
  • A. 2F/9
  • B. 2F/3
  • C. 4F/9
  • D. 4F/3

Explanation: The force per unit length between two parallel wires is F ∝ (I₁I₂)/r. Initially, F ∝ I²/r.

Correct answer: 4F/3
  • A. Magnetic flux density
  • B. Magnetic field lines
  • C. Magnetic flux
  • D. Both A and B

Explanation: Magnetic flux density (B) is a vector quantity because it has both magnitude and direction.

Correct answer: Magnetic flux density
  • A. Tend to cancel each other
  • B. Reinforce each other
  • C. Not affect each other
  • D. Either 'A' or 'B'

Explanation: If currents are in the same direction, the fields in the middle oppose and weaken each other (causing attraction).

Correct answer: Either 'A' or 'B'
  • A. 1/R
  • B. R2
  • C. R
  • D. R3

Explanation: The kinetic energy of the particle is KE = (1/2)mv². The speed of the particle at radius R is given by v = qBR/m.

Correct answer: R2