Question

If the magnetic field a perpendicular distance r to the left of a current-carrying wire is 10 T, what will the net magnetic field at the same point be if a second wire with a current twice as strong and flowing in the opposite direction is placed a distance r to the right of the original wire?

Answer 1

The net magnetic field at the point will be twice the magnetic field due to a single wire, directed out of the page.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the net magnetic field at a point, we need to consider the magnetic fields created by each wire separately and then find the vector sum of the two fields. Since the second wire has a current twice as strong and flows in the opposite direction, its magnetic field will also be twice as strong but in the opposite direction. Using the right-hand rule, we can determine that the magnetic field created by the first wire at the point to the left is directed out of the page. The magnetic field created by the second wire at the point to the right is also directed out of the page, but with twice the magnitude. Therefore, the net magnetic field at the point will be twice the magnetic field due to a single wire, directed out of the page.