You have a compass, a 9-V battery, and a 50

step 1 So we're asked whether a battery, resistor, and a compass are enough to repeat Orsted's experime

You have a compass, a $9-\mathrm{V}$ battery, and a 50 - \Omega resistor.
You wish to show your friends how Oersted's experiment works. Will you be able to do this with the available equipment? Explain how you made your decision.

Key Concepts

Ohm’s Law and Circuit Analysis

Ohm’s Law is a fundamental principle in electrical circuits that states the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance (V = IR). Using Ohm’s Law, one can calculate the current flowing through a circuit when a known voltage is applied with a specified resistance. This analysis is crucial for determining whether the current in a circuit, such as one driven by a battery and a resistor, will be sufficient to produce a magnetic field strong enough to be observed via a compass.

Oersted's Experiment

Oersted’s experiment was the first demonstration that an electric current produces a magnetic field. This key concept shows the fundamental relationship between electricity and magnetism, forming the basis for electromagnetism. In a typical setup, a current flowing through a conductor creates a magnetic field that can deflect a nearby magnetic needle, demonstrating that electric currents and magnetic fields are interrelated.

Magnetic Field of a Current-Carrying Conductor

When an electric current passes through a conductor, it generates a magnetic field in the space around it. The strength and direction of this magnetic field depend on the current's magnitude and the distance from the conductor, as described by the Biot–Savart Law or Ampère’s Law. This concept is central to understanding how the magnetic field produced by a simple circuit can interact with a magnetic needle, such as that of a compass.

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