Question

Two parallel wires carry electric current in the same direction as shown in the figure to the right. The current in each wire produces a magnetic field, and each wire experiences a magnetic force due to the field produced by the other wire. In the region of space near wire 1, in what direction does the magnetic field produced by wire 2 point?

Answer 1

Near wire 1, the magnetic field direction produced by current in wire 2 is determined using the right-hand rule and will circle wire 2 in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, depending on the current's direction into or out of the page.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the scenario of two parallel wires carrying electric current in the same direction, the magnetic field produced by one wire can be determined using the right-hand rule. For wire 2, you point your right thumb in the direction of the current and curl your fingers around the wire; the direction of the magnetic field at any point is the direction in which your fingers curl. Near wire 1, the magnetic field produced by wire 2 will therefore form concentric circles around wire 2, with the magnetic field pointing in a direction that is clockwise when viewed from a point where wire 2 is entering the page, or counterclockwise if wire 2 is coming out of the page.