Laplace Rail Demonstration

This innovative apparatus is designed to demonstrate the force exerted on a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field. It features a pair of metal rails equipped with 4 mm plugs at their ends for easy connection to a power supply. A lightweight, conducting brass axle with discs at both ends rests on the rails, creating an electrical connection between them. The setup is exposed to a vertical magnetic field generated by two bar magnets. When current flows through the system, the axle experiences a force—either outward or inward—depending on the magnetic field’s direction, causing it to roll along the rails. This fascinating phenomenon, known as the motor effect, effectively illustrates fundamental electromagnetic principles.