Question

A long, thin, insulated wire carries a current I1=1A out of the plane of the paper. The wire is surrounded by a long cylinder of radius a=12cm. The cylinder carries a current I2=9A that is unformly distributed over its cross section and flows into the plane of the paper.

Find the radius r at which the amgnetic field is zero.

Answer 1

The magnetic field is zero at a radius r = 4 cm.

Step-by-step explanation:

The magnetic field due to the wire is given by B₁ = μ₀I₁/2πr where I₁ = current in wire = 1 A and r = distance of point where magnetic field is zero from wire.

Now, since the current is uniformly distributed in the cross section of the cylinder, its current density is constant.

So, with current I₂ = 9 A flowing in the cylinder and radius, a = 12 cm. Let I' = current at radius r where the magnetic field is zero. So,

I'/πr² = I₂/πa²

I' = I₂r²/a²

Using Ampere's Law, the magnetic field B₂ at the distance r is given by

∫B.ds = μ₀I'

∫Bdscos0 = μ₀I' (since the magnetic field is parallel to the path)

B∫ds = μ₀I' ∫ds = 2πr

B2πr = μ₀I'

2Bπr = μ₀I₂r²/a²

B₂ = μ₀I₂r/2πa²

So, when the net magnetic field is zero, B₁ = B₂

So, μ₀I₁/2πr = μ₀I₂r/2πa²

I₁/r = I₂r/a²

I₁/I₂ = r²/a²

r² = I₁/I₂a²

taking square root of both sides,

r = a√(I₁/I₂)

substituting the values of the variables, we have

r = 12√(1/9)

r = 12/3

r = 4 cm

The magnetic field is zero at a radius r = 4 cm.