Fundamentals of Physics Extended (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1-11823-072-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-11823-072-5

Chapter 29 - Magnetic Fields Due to Currents - Problems - Page 857: 11a

Answer

The current in wire 2 is $~~4.3~A$

Work Step by Step

Note that the distance of wire 1 from point $P$ is $3~d_1$ Note that the distance of wire 2 from point $P$ is $2~d_1$ We can write the general expression for the magnetic field produced by a current in a straight wire: $B = \frac{\mu_0~i}{2~\pi~R}$ If the net magnetic field at point $P$ is zero, the magnetic field due to each current must be equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. To find the current $i_2$, we can equate the magnitude of the magnetic field due to each current: $\frac{\mu_0~i_2}{(2~\pi)~(2~d_1)} = \frac{\mu_0~i_1}{(2~\pi)~(3~d_1)}$ $\frac{i_2}{2} = \frac{i_1}{3}$ $i_2 = \frac{2~i_1}{3}$ $i_2 = \frac{(2)~(6.5~A)}{3}$ $i_2 = 4.3~A$ The current in wire 2 is $~~4.3~A$
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