Help me with this please

A 6.0 m section of wire carries a current of 5.2 A from east to west in the earth's magnetic field of 1.0 × 10^-5 T at a location where the magnetic field points south. In which direction does the magnetic force act on the wire?

north

south

up

down

if by current flow, you meant + current flow, the right hand rule http://www.magnet.fsu.edu/education/tutorials/java/handrules/images/right-hand-rule.jpg suggests upward

thx, you helped me out a lot :)

To determine the direction of the magnetic force acting on the wire, we can use the right-hand rule for cross products. Here's how to do it:

1. Extend your right hand and make it flat, with your fingers pointing in the direction of the current flow (from east to west, as given in the problem).
2. Curl your fingers towards the direction of the magnetic field lines (pointing south).
3. Your thumb will now point in the direction of the magnetic force acting on the wire.

So, according to the right-hand rule, the thumb points downward. Therefore, the magnetic force acts downward on the wire.

Hence, the correct answer is "down."