The astronomical object 4U014 + 61 has the distinction of creating the most powerful magnetic field ever observed. This object is referred to as a "magnetar" (a subclass of pulsars), and its magnetic field is 1.3 × 1015 times greater than the Earth's magnetic field.

(a) Suppose a 2.5-m straight wire carrying a current of 1.1 A is placed in this magnetic field at an angle of 65° to the field lines. What force does this wire experience?

(b) A field this strong can significantly change the behavior of an atom. To see this, consider an electron moving with a speed of 2.2 × 106 m/s. Compare the maximum magnetic force exerted on the electron to the electric force a proton exerts on an electron in a hydrogen atom. The radius of the hydrogen atom is 5.29 × 10-11 m.