Determine the magnetic field strength

[dsandhu]

I have racked my brain for the past two hours and I can't figure this out. If anyone can help me with, please do.

Two long parallel wires 6.00 cm apart carry 19.5 A currents in the same direction. Determine the magnetic field strength at a point 12.0 cm from one wire and 13.4 cm from the other. (Hint: Make a drawing in a plane containing the field lines, and recall the rules for vector addition.)

I found the magnetic field for each of the wires separately using B = Mo(I)/ r

but I cannot understand what the "vectors" have to do with the problem.

 

[Gokul43201]

The magnetic field (just like the electric field) is a vector quantity; therefore when superposing two fields, you must use the rules of vector addition.

Check your text or Google for how to add vectors.

 

[Doc Al]

Please do not double post!

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=73880