Magnetic Force on a Current-Carrying Wire Calculator
Calculate the magnetic force on a straight current-carrying wire placed in a uniform magnetic field.
T
A
m
deg
From F = B·I·L·sin(theta)
- 1
sin(θ)
sin(90°) = 1Force is maximum when θ = 90° and zero when the wire is parallel to the field. - 2
Magnetic force F = B × I × L × sin(θ)
0.5 × 10 × 0.2 × 1 = 1
How does this calculator work?
The magnetic force on a current-carrying wire is F = B·I·L·sin(theta), where B is field strength (T), I is current (A), L is wire length (m), and theta is the angle between wire and field. Force is largest when perpendicular (90°) and zero when parallel. The answer comes out in newtons.
Formula
How this is calculated
A straight conductor of length L carrying current I in a uniform magnetic field B experiences a force F = B·I·L·sin(theta), where theta is the angle between the direction of the current (the wire) and the magnetic field. Enter B in tesla (T), I in amperes (A), L in metres (m), and theta in degrees; the angle is converted to radians internally before taking the sine.
The force is greatest when the wire is perpendicular to the field (theta = 90°, sin = 1) and zero when the wire is parallel to the field (theta = 0° or 180°, sin = 0). The result F is reported in newtons (N). The calculator also shows the maximum possible force (at 90°) and the force per unit length (B·I·sin(theta)) for comparison.
This assumes a uniform field, a straight wire of uniform current, and that the field does not vary along the wire. For non-uniform fields or curved conductors the force must be integrated element by element (dF = I dL × B). The direction of the force follows the right-hand rule and is perpendicular to both the current and the field; only the magnitude is computed here.
Frequently asked questions
Because F depends on sin(theta), and sin(0°) = sin(180°) = 0. A wire aligned with the field experiences no magnetic force; the force is maximum when the wire is perpendicular (90°).
The force is perpendicular to both the current and the magnetic field, given by the right-hand rule (F = I L × B). This calculator returns only the magnitude in newtons.
Use SI units: magnetic field B in tesla, current I in amperes, length L in metres, and angle in degrees. The resulting force is then in newtons.
Also known as
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). Magnetic Force on a Current-Carrying Wire Calculator [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/magnetic-force-on-wire-calculator
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "Magnetic Force on a Current-Carrying Wire Calculator." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/magnetic-force-on-wire-calculator.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "Magnetic Force on a Current-Carrying Wire Calculator," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/calculator/magnetic-force-on-wire-calculator
@misc{wecalculate_magnetic_force_on_wire_calculator, title = {Magnetic Force on a Current-Carrying Wire Calculator}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/calculator/magnetic-force-on-wire-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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