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Three long straight wires, 1, 2, and 3, carry the same amount of current 1 . The current in wire 1 and 2 are flowing out of the page, and the current in wire 3 is flowing to the right as shown. What is the direction of the net magnetic force on wire 1? A. ← B. ↓ C. → D. Out of the page E. ↓ and out of the page

User Jan Kruse
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Final answer:

The net magnetic force on wire 1, caused by the interaction with wires 2 and 3, will be to the left. This is determined using the right-hand rule for magnetic fields and forces between currents flowing in the same direction, which results in attraction.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asking about the direction of the net magnetic force on wire 1 due to its interaction with two other currents. This question is related to the magnetic force between parallel current-carrying wires, according to Ampère's force law. For two currents flowing in the same direction, the wires will be attracted to each other. Therefore, wire 2 will exert a force toward wire 1. Since wire 3 has a current flowing in a perpendicular direction to wire 1, it will not exert any direct linear magnetic force on wire 1, but could potentially create a torque.

Using the right-hand rule, you can determine the direction of the magnetic fields and the resulting forces. As both wire 1 and wire 2 have currents flowing out of the page (along the positive z-axis if we consider them to be in the x-y plane), the magnetic field due to wire 2 at the location of wire 1 will be directed towards the left. Consequently, wire 1 will experience a force in the direction of this field, which is to the left.

Therefore, the answer to the student's question is that the net magnetic force on wire 1 will be to the left, which corresponds to option A.

User Cimm
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