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The figure below shows two parallel, straight wires that are very long. The wire

ID: 1440733 • Letter: T

Question

The figure below shows two parallel, straight wires that are very long. The wires are separated by a distance of 0.0150 m and carry currents of I_1 = 19.1 A and I_2 = 15.8 A. Find the magnitude and direction of the force that the magnetic field of wire 1 applies to a 1.5-m section of wire 2 when the currents have (a) opposite and (b) the same directions. Two long, parallel wires carrying currents I_1 and I_2 in opposite directions repel each other. (b) The wires attract each other when the currents are in the same direction.

Explanation / Answer

distance between two wires = 0.0150 m

current on wire1 =19.1 A

current on wire2 = 15.8 A

length of wire = 1.5m

force / length = 2 * 10^-7 * I1 * I2 / distance between wires

putting the values,

force / 1.5 = 2 * 10^-7 *19.1* 15.8/ 0.0150

force = 0.0060356 N

a) if the current in the same direction wires will attract each other with the force of 0.00207 N

b) if the current in the opposite direction wires will repel each other with the force of 0.00207 N