Question

At a point directly between the two wires, the field is directed:

a) Up, toward the top of the screen.

b) Down, toward the bottom of the screen.

c) To the left.

d) To the right.

e) Zero.

Answer 1

The direction of the magnetic field around a single wire carrying current can be determined using the right-hand rule and depends on the direction of the current. Between two wires with equal and opposite currents, the net magnetic field at a point equidistant from both wires would be zero due to field cancellation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to the magnetic field created by currents in wires and how it is affected by their relative positions. Using the right-hand rule, we can determine the direction of the magnetic field around a wire carrying current. For a wire along the y-axis carrying current in the positive y-direction, the magnetic field at a point on the positive x-axis would be directed into the page, which is represented by the symbol of a circle with a dot at the center. Conversely, if the current were in the negative y-direction, the magnetic field would be directed out of the page, represented by a circle with an x-shaped line.

When considering the net magnetic field directly between two wires with currents flowing in opposite directions, it is important to sum the contributions from both wires. If the currents in the wires are equal and opposite, and the points considered are equidistant from both wires, the net field would be zero because the fields from each wire would cancel each other out.