Question

Two long, straight, parallel wires 24 cm apart carry currents of i1 = 30a and i2 = 20a in the same direction. Determine the magnetic field in the plane of the two wires at a point halfway between the wires.​

Answer 1

Answer:

According to my calculations, it is about 1.7 × 10^(-5) tesla.

Explanation:

Since the wires are 24 cm apart, the midpoint will be 12 cm away from both the wires.

For wire 1,

i = i1 = 30 A, d1 = 12 × 10^(-2) m

Magnetic field B1= {(μ° × i) ÷ (2π × d)}

={(4π × 10^(-7) ×30) ÷ (2π × 12 × 10^(-2))}

= {60×10^(-7)} ÷ {12 ×10^(-2)}

= 5 × 10^(-5) T

For wire 2,

i = i2 = 20 A, d2 = d1

Putting the values over here in the equation, we get B2 = 3.3 × 10^(-5) T.

Since the currents are flowing in the same sense, the magnitudes will be subtracted.

Therefore, B(total) = B1 - B2

(5.0 - 3.3) × 10^(-5)

B(total) = 1.7 × 10^(-5) T.

Assumption: The wires are of infinite length.