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Which way do the magnetic field lines produced by this wire point?

a) They point parallel to the wire in the direction of the current
b) They point parallel to the wire opposite the direction of the current
c) They make circles around the wire
d) They point away from the wire

User Makotosan
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1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

A wire carrying current in the +y-direction produces a magnetic field that circles the wire. Using the right-hand rule, at a point on the +x-axis, the magnetic field will point to the page.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a wire carries current, it creates a magnetic field around it. According to the right-hand rule (RHR-2), if you position your right hand with the thumb pointing in the direction of the current, your fingers will curl in the direction of the magnetic field. For a wire along the y-axis carrying current in the +y-direction, and considering a point on the +x-axis near the wire, the magnetic field will circle around the wire. If you use your right hand and point your thumb in the direction of the current (upwards, or in the +y-direction), your fingers will wrap into the page on the right side of the wire (from the perspective of someone looking down on the xy-plane from a positive z position). Therefore, at a point on the +x-axis close to the wire, the magnetic field direction will be on the page.

User Mturquette
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