Oersted and Ampere found that moving electric charges produce

Options

A. electric field
B. magnetic field
C. Both (1) and (2)
D. Neither (1) nor (2)

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Question**: The question asks what Oersted and Ampere discovered about moving electric charges.

2. **Oersted's Experiment**: Hans Christian Oersted conducted an experiment in 1820 where he passed an electric current through a wire and observed that a nearby compass needle deflected. This indicated that an electric current produces a magnetic field.

3. **Ampere's Contribution**: Following Oersted's findings, André-Marie Ampère further investigated the relationship between electric currents and magnetic fields. He formulated Ampère's Law, which quantifies the magnetic field generated by electric currents.

4. **Oersted-Ampère Law**: The law states that the magnetic field (B) around a closed loop is proportional to the total current (I) passing through the loop. Mathematically, it can be expressed as:
\[ \oint B \cdot dl = \mu_0 I_{total} \]
where \( \mu_0 \) is the permeability of free space, and \( I_{total} \) is the sum of the currents enclosed by the loop.

5. **Conclusion**: From the experiments and laws established by Oersted and Ampère, we conclude that moving electric charges (or electric current) produce a magnetic field.

**Final Answer**: Oersted and Ampere found that moving electric charges produce a magnetic field.

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