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View Full Version : Magnetc force from current-carrying wires - help


vsage
Oct20-04, 06:34 PM
In the figure below, a long straight wire carries a current of 8.5 Amps.
(Attached)
Find the magnitude of the net force (in N) on a rigid square loop of wire of side, L, equal to 5.35 cm. The center of the loop is d = 10.40 cm from the wire and the loop carries a current of 10.0 Amperes.

I don't really know where to start on this one. I realize that the segments perpendicular to the length of wire with current I1 can be discarded as not contributing any force right? I don't know where to proceed from there. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Well I sort of figured out how to do it but I think I'm screwing the sign up somewhere:

F = iL \cross B
B = \frac{\mu I_1}{2 \pi r}
And sum up the force on the top and bottom of the square from the long wire? Do I add the force being exerted on the top of the loop from the bottom of the loop and vice versa?

Edit: Here is my work (let subscript t be top and b be bottom)

F = \frac {u_0I_1I_t L_t}{2 \pi r_t} + \frac {u_0I_1I_bL_b}{2 \pi r_b}

F = \frac {2 \times 10^{-7} \times 8.5 \times -10 \times 0.0535}{0.07725} + \frac {2 \times 10^{-7} \times 8.5 \times 10 \times 0.0535}{0.13075}

= about 9 \times 10^-6N

which is wrong

vsage
Oct20-04, 07:34 PM
Nevermind I got it. I have been plugging in the wrong numbers for hours :\