How Does Current Affect Spring Extension in a Magnetic Field?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the current flowing through a wire that stretches a spring with a spring constant K of 20 N/m when subjected to a magnetic field of 0.5 T. The spring is stretched 1 cm from its equilibrium position, and the force on the current-carrying wire in the magnetic field is given by the formula F = ILB. To find the current I, one must equate the force exerted by the spring (F = -kx) to the magnetic force (F = ILB), leading to the conclusion that the current can be determined using these established physics principles.

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Sam_The_Great
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I have the following problem on which I am unsure how to proceed.

A spring with a spring constant K = 20 N/m is shown below. It is stretched 1 cm from its equilibrium position when a current I passes through the wire. How big is the current in the wire?

The magnetic field is coming out of the page and is B = .5T, the length of the area is 20cm.
_________________________
| || |
| || |
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\|| |
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| || | 20 cm
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|_______||________________|
 
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You'll need to know the force on a current-carrying wire in a magnetic field: F = ILB, assuming the field is perpendicular to the wire. And you'll need to know about springs: F = -kx.
 
Thanks

Thanks a lot
 

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