The Power of Magnetic Fields: Understanding the Direction of Net Magnetic Field

What is the direction of the net magnetic field caused by two current-carrying wires, i1 and i2, oriented perpendicular to the screen and carrying the same current?

a. Clockwise (arrow d)
b. Counterclockwise (arrow b)
c. Upwards (arrow a)
d. Downwards (arrow c)

Answer:

The direction of the net magnetic field caused by the two wires is zero at the point located a distance d away from each wire.

When two current-carrying wires, i1 and i2, are oriented perpendicular to the screen and carry the same current, the direction of the net magnetic field at a point located a distance d away from each wire will be zero. This phenomenon occurs due to the magnetic fields produced by each wire having equal magnitude but opposite direction.

The net magnetic field caused by the two wires can be determined using the right-hand rule for the magnetic field. Since i1 is in the z-direction and i2 is in the -z-direction, the magnetic fields produced by each wire will have opposite directions. The magnetic field around a current-carrying wire forms concentric circles, with the direction following the right-hand rule.

At a point located a distance d away from each wire, the magnetic fields produced by i1 and i2 will cancel each other out, resulting in a net magnetic field of zero. This cancellation is due to the equal and opposite directions of the magnetic fields produced by the wires.

Understanding the behavior of magnetic fields is crucial in various fields of science and technology. By grasping the concept of magnetic field direction and interaction, we can better comprehend the forces at play in electromagnetism and related phenomena.