---
title: "A flat, rectangular wire loop carrying a steady current lies in the xy-plane. The loop has a magnetic dipole moment \\(\\vec{\\mu}\\) directed along the \\(+z\\)-axis. A uniform external magnetic field \\(\\vec{B}\\) is directed along the \\(+x\\)-axis.  Which of the following correctly identifies the direction of the magnetic torque \\(\\vec{\\tau}\\) exerted on the loop and describes the orientation toward which this torque tends to rotate \\(\\vec{\\mu}\\)?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/118503/"
date_modified: "2026-08-04T08:11:06+00:00"
---

# A flat, rectangular wire loop carrying a steady current lies in the xy-plane. The loop has a magnetic dipole moment \(\vec{\mu}\) directed along the \(+z\)-axis. A uniform external magnetic field \(\vec{B}\) is directed along the \(+x\)-axis.

Which of the following correctly identifies the direction of the magnetic torque \(\vec{\tau}\) exerted on the loop and describes the orientation toward which this torque tends to rotate \(\vec{\mu}\)?

A flat, rectangular wire loop carrying a steady current lies in the xy-plane. The loop has a magnetic dipole moment \(\vec{\mu}\) directed along the \(+z\)-axis. A uniform external magnetic field \(\vec{B}\) is directed along the \(+x\)-axis.

Which of the following correctly identifies the direction of the magnetic torque \(\vec{\tau}\) exerted on the loop and describes the orientation toward which this torque tends to rotate \(\vec{\mu}\)?

![A three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system shows the x-axis pointing horizontally to the right, the y-axis pointing diagonally down and to the left, and the z-axis pointing vertically straight up. A flat rectangular loop lies flat in the xy-plane centered at the origin. A bold vector arrow labeled \(\vec{\mu}\) originates at the origin and points straight up along the positive z-axis. Three parallel, evenly spaced horizontal arrows labeled \(\vec{B}\) point to the right parallel to the positive x-axis. No other labels, lines, text, or axes appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1785831066-S3B6Rz.jpg)

- **A.** Direction of torque \(\vec{\tau}\): \(+y\)-direction | Tendency of torque: Rotates \(\vec{\mu}\) toward the \(+x\)-direction
- **B.** Direction of torque \(\vec{\tau}\): \(-y\)-direction | Tendency of torque: Rotates \(\vec{\mu}\) toward the \(+x\)-direction
- **C.** Direction of torque \(\vec{\tau}\): \(+y\)-direction | Tendency of torque: Rotates \(\vec{\mu}\) toward the \(-z\)-direction
- **D.** Direction of torque \(\vec{\tau}\): \(-x\)-direction | Tendency of torque: Rotates \(\vec{\mu}\) toward the \(-x\)-direction

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/118503/*