Question

Two long, straight, parallel wires, each 1.25 g, carry the same current but in opposite directions. They are connected to either end of a 1.50 m string, where the center of the string is hung over a hook on the ceiling (i.e., the string makes an upside-down V with the wires on each end). The angle between the two sides of the string is 12.25° (i.e., angle of the V). What is the current in the two wires? (Please draw a free body diagram.)

Answer 1

The problem requires calculating the current in two parallel wires that exert a magnetic force causing a string angle due to their current flow. The answer will involve using principles of electromagnetism and mechanics to find the balance of forces.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question involves finding the current in two parallel wires that are hanging and attached to a string, causing an angle due to the magnetic forces. We'll first draw a Free Body Diagram (FBD) where the tension in the string is vertical and equal to the weight of each wire, and the horizontal components of the tension must balance the magnetic force. Since the wires generate magnetic fields that are in opposite directions due to the opposite current flow, they will attract each other. The magnetic force can be analyzed according to Ampere’s Law and the formula for the magnetic force between two parallel currents.