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Calculate the magnitude of the magnetic field due to the current in the wire, B i, in micro-tesla, at the location of the compass.

User Ben Hayden
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Final answer:

To find the magnetic field at a point from a current-carrying wire, apply the formula B = (\(\mu_0\)I)/(2\(\pi\)r). Sum up the magnetic contributions from all wires, considering the direction of their currents to get the total field at point P.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the magnetic field due to a current in a wire at a certain location, we utilize the right-hand rule and specific formulas from magnetism. In the provided scenario, where we want to find the magnetic field at a point away from three wires all carrying a current into the page, we should use the formula for the magnetic field due to a long straight wire, which is given by B = (\(\mu_0\)I)/(2\(\pi\)r), where \(\mu_0\) is the magnetic constant (\(4\pi\) x 10-7 T·m/A), I is the current, and r is the distance from the wire to the point of interest.

The magnetic field's magnitude at point P due to each wire can be calculated, and then the contributions from all wires can be summed up, taking into account their directions, to get the net magnetic field at point P. It's important to remember that the magnetic fields due to parallel wires will add or cancel depending on the direction of the currents and their relative positions.

User Bartek Andrzejczak
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