Quick Answer:The Oersted’s Apparatus shows the action of an electric current on a magnet, using a 75 mm cobalt steel needle on an agate bearing inside a 130 x 50 mm rectangular frame fitted with 4 mm socket terminals.
Last updated: 18 October 2026
Key Features
Cobalt steel needle, 75 mm long, with agate bearing.
Needle supported by a pivot on a plastic base.
130 x 50 mm rectangular frame around the needle, in the vertical plane.
Two 4 mm socket terminals at one end of the frame and one at the other.
Technical Specifications
Specification
Value
Needle
Cobalt steel, 75 mm long, agate bearing
Frame
130 x 50 mm, rectangular, vertical plane
Terminals
4 mm sockets (two at one end, one at the other)
Base
Plastic, with pivot
How It Is Used
The frame is lined up with the needle and a current is passed through it; the needle swings, showing that a current produces a magnetic effect. Reversing the current reverses the swing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Oersted’s Apparatus demonstrate?
It shows the action of an electric current on a magnet: current in the frame around the pivoted needle deflects it.
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