What is Wire: Definition and 1000 Discussions

A wire is a single usually cylindrical, flexible strand or rod of metal. Wires are used to bear mechanical loads or electricity and telecommunications signals. Wire is commonly formed by drawing the metal through a hole in a die or draw plate. Wire gauges come in various standard sizes, as expressed in terms of a gauge number. The term 'wire' is also used more loosely to refer to a bundle of such strands, as in "multistranded wire", which is more correctly termed a wire rope in mechanics, or a cable in electricity.
Wire comes in solid core, stranded, or braided forms. Although usually circular in cross-section, wire can be made in square, hexagonal, flattened rectangular, or other cross-sections, either for decorative purposes, or for technical purposes such as high-efficiency voice coils in loudspeakers. Edge-wound coil springs, such as the Slinky toy, are made of special flattened wire.

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  1. Addez123

    Does a wire loops' magnetic field affect it's current?

    When you run current through a circle formed wire it generates a magnetic field. Will this field affect the current in the wire that generates it? I mean if it does wouldn't the calculations for the created magnetic field be rather circular? The magnetic field depends on the current which in...
  2. L

    Magnetic flux between 2 parallel wires

    Homework Statement Consider two long parallel wires each of radius a with a separation distance d between them. They carry current I in opposite directions. Calculate the magnetic flux through a section of length l, ignoring magnetic field inside the wires. My confusion lies in trying to...
  3. Cathr

    Circular motion of an electron in a magnetic field

    Imagine we take a vertical, infinite wire and we let electric current pass through. The charges create magnetic field all around the wire. Now if we introduce an electron in the magnetic field, it will have a circular motion around the wire. The Lorentz force is not conservative, this means...
  4. J

    Vector potential inside an infinite wire

    Homework Statement The problem statement is simply to find the vector potential inside and outside an infinite wire of radius R, current I and constant current density j using the Poisson equation. Homework Equations The Poisson law can be written A = μ0 /4π *∫(I/r*dl) or A = μ0 /4π *∫(i/r*dV)...
  5. P

    Low DC amp through small circuit of 14 AWG copper wire?

    I have a 2 AMP regulated DC power supply, with variable voltage 3 - 12 v. If in a small circuit, i.e, small copper wire with 1 ohm resistor. Why am i not getting at max Amps?
  6. R

    Magnetic force on triangular loop of wire

    Homework Statement Find the force on the triangular loop in the figure: I am trying to do this in cylindrical polar coordinates, because it builds character. Homework Equations $$\vec{B}(\vec{r}) = \frac{\mu _0}{4\pi} \int \frac{I(d\vec{l} \times \hat{\alpha})}{|\vec{\alpha}|^2}$$ Where alpha...
  7. S

    Magnetic force on current carrying wire

    Homework Statement A wire along the z-axis carries a current of 6.8 A in the +z direction. Find the magnitude and direction of the force exerted on a 6.1-cm long length of the wire by a uniform magnetic field with magnitude 0.36 T in the -x direction. Homework Equations F=I(LxB) The Attempt...
  8. guythreepwood

    Taking the temperature of a wire

    I'm new here, and I hope I'm posting this in the right place. My colleagues and I are trying to take the temperature of a steel wire as it's heated. We're heating it by putting a current through it. The problem we're encountering is that the thermocouple we're using to take the temperature of...
  9. M

    MHB Length of Wire and Area of Squares: Solving for the Length of Each Piece

    A piece of wire is cut into two pieces. Each piece is then bent to form a square. If the sum of the areas of the two squares is 5L^2/128, how long is each piece of the wire? My Reasoning: I see the words square and sum of the squares. A = s^2, where s is side of the square. Sum of the areas...
  10. JaWa

    EMotor Wire Turn Calculations

    It's been like 3 or 4 years since I've built an electric motor & I've forgotten mostly everything and need some help getting this worked out for those that don't mind. I'm trying to build a 48V 40-60A eBike motor. I'm using 200C 10AWG Magnet Wire. I have a 24 pole stator core. The stator core...
  11. M

    Calculate the temperature of a wire as an electrical current flows through it

    Hey, so I'm just wondering what are the formulas needed to calculate the temperature of a wire after x amount of time as an electrical current is passed through it. I know how to solve for it... I just forgot the formulas. Thanks
  12. Nikhil N

    How to wire the contactor just to switch on and off

    I am first time using a contactor. I have a 3-phase contactor with me, Need to switch on and off without any load connected. It has two auxiliary terminals A1 and A2, for just to turn on how it should be connected?
  13. T

    Number of turns vs. wire length affecting voltage in coil

    When winding a coil around a magnetic core, if you wanted to tap the coil such that each half has the same AC voltage output, would you: A) wind each part at the same RPM for the same amount of time, to get the same number of turns for each, or B) wind the second part proportionally less, to...
  14. Jack98

    Why do wires attract each other when current flows in the same direction?

    Hi all, the question is in regards to magnetic fields in a wire. Please refer to illustration below to understand my question. (https://www.imageupload.co.uk/image/B9f1) As you can see in Picture 3 two wires parallel to each other will attract each other if the current is going in the same...
  15. Saracen Rue

    B Why is the force pushing electrons downwards in this scenario?

    Hello Physics Forums users, Thank you for taking the time to read my thread. I has just reading through this following article: http://www.sciencehq.com/physics/electromagnetic-induction.html when I came across this: And became rather confused. The right hand rule dictates that in this...
  16. Kbement

    Build a Magnet Generator with 42 Gauge Wire

    Hey everybody, So I've decided to try and make a copper wire magnet generator (real small) for part of my senior design project. If I can get this to work I can potentially reduce my fixture significantly. Anyways, I purchased some real small wind turbine generators off the shelf to play with...
  17. Cocoleia

    Resistance, cross-sectional area of long coated wire

    Homework Statement Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I attempted all of the parts: I think I did the right things for a-b-c-d, but I am pretty unsure about e & f. Can someone verify if my logic is right? Thanks.
  18. Arman777

    Electric Field Calculation (Square Wire)

    Homework Statement Find the electric field a distance ##z## above center of a square loop of wire,each of whose sides has length ##l## and uniform charge per length ##λ## Homework Equations ##dE=\frac {1} {4πε_0} dq \frac {1} {r^2}## (magnitude) The Attempt at a Solution...
  19. I

    Why does the current need to be small when using an ohmmeter?

    Homework Statement The question wants to know why th current should be small through a wire when using an ohmmeter. Homework Equations None The Attempt at a Solution I can't think of a solution, and looking online doesn't give any answer.
  20. rumborak

    A circular current-carrying wire floats in space....

    Maybe there's a tiny battery somewhere, just to make it realistic. The wire is also very thin, and thus needs little to no force to be bent. What happens to the wire? Does it twist on itself because each piece of the wire experiences a Lorentz force due to the magnetic field of the wire on the...
  21. C

    How does Faraday's motor cause the wire to circularly move?

    Basically I'm not sure how the interaction between the circular magnetic field produced by the current in the wire and the magnetic field of the permanent magnet interact to cause the wire to move in circular motion. If someone could explain that I would appreciate it.
  22. T

    The relationship of wire diameter and electricity produced

    im doing some personal research into building my own generator. i am looking for info on how wire diameter affects the power produced by the generator. specificaly: what AWG of wire is best for coils that are being used to generate as clost to the statdard killowatt/hour as possible.
  23. T

    Voltage between two points on an empty wire

    I'm a computer science student. I'm currently learning electronics so that I can program embedded devices effectively. I'm reading from the free book at allaboutcircuits.com. Why is the voltage between two points on a wire in a closed circuit equal to zero? Note that between these two points...
  24. N

    Effect of resistance on voltage flow in a wire

    Hey guys! Any answers will be much appreciated! The following is a deep conceptual issue I have. The diagram is a bit crude but will suffice I think. Note: Had drawn the circular 'electric field' at the time, to just help myself over my confusion. Feel free to ignore it. As per Ohm's law V...
  25. H

    Calculating the force between two electrons in a wire

    Homework Statement An infinite line charge (wire) has lambda = lambda0. It produces an electric field of magnitude 5E4 N/C at a distance of 2m. Determine the typical force between two adjacent extra electrons in the wireHomework Equations E_line = lambda/(2pi*r*epsilon0) The Attempt at a...
  26. Shelby8

    Current and resistance of wire heating up water

    Homework Statement An office worker uses an immersion heater to warm 250 g of water in a light, covered, insulated cup from 20 degrees C to 100 degrees C in 4 minutes. The heater is Nichrome resistance wire connected to 120V power supply. Assume wire is at 100 degree C during 4 minute time...
  27. G

    Young's Modulus Brass Wire Question

    Homework Statement A 10 kg load suspended by a brass wire 10 m long is observed to vibrate vertically in SHM at a frequency of 10 vib/s. Given that the Young's modulus for brass is , what is the cross-sectional area of the wire? So we know: m = 10kg l = 10m f = 10Hz Y = 9x10^10 Homework...
  28. JulienB

    Relativistic E and B fields of an infinitely long wire

    Homework Statement Hi everybody! I have the following problem to solve: An infinitely long and thin straight wire carries a constant charge density ##\lambda## and moves at a constant relativistic speed ##\vec{v}## perpendicularly (##\beta##) and parallel (##\alpha##) to its axis. a)...
  29. Samar A

    Hot Wire Ammeter: How it Works

    In my textbook it says:"in the hot-wire ammeter the pointer stands at a definite reading when the temperature of platinum-iridium becomes constant and the wire stops expanding. That is achieved when the rate of heat radiated by the platinum-iridium wire becomes equal to the rate of heat...
  30. R

    Charge carrier drift velocity of wire

    Homework Statement Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution Current is I = nqvA so drift velocity V is: V = I/nqA Drift velocity for x is: Vx = I/nqA Drift velocity for y is: Vy = 2I/nqA So the ratio of Vx : Vy should be 2:1 since Vy is equal to 2 lots of Vx?? (but correct answer is B)
  31. R

    Calculating Current in a Wire: Applying PD and Cross-Sectional Area

    Homework Statement Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I know I = nqvA When the pd is applied the surface that is 8cm long, the cross sectional area is 32cm (8x4) but when the pd is applied across the 4cm side, the cross sectional area is now 16cm (4x4) so I has decreased by a...
  32. A

    What is the optimal thickness of a coating to reduce a wire's resistance by 50%?

    Homework Statement A long round wire of radius a and conductivity σ is coated with a material of conductivity 0.1σ. (a) What must be the thickness of the coating so that the resistance per unit length of the uncoated wire is reduced by 50%? 2. Homework Equations [/B] R = l/(σS) where R is the...
  33. Joshua L

    What are the considerations for analyzing current through thin gold wires?

    Hey all, I've been thinking of a couple scenarios that involve thin wires (ones that have their diameter in the order of 1 mm). Suppose a gold wire with length L and diameter D is suspended straight in room temperature air and connected to some voltage V. Thus, a current will pass through the...
  34. Planobilly

    Effect of EMF in a wire as opposed to a metal chassis?

    Hi, Consider a wire with a pulsating DC current next to another wire. The expanding and contraction magnetic field induces a current into the second wire. Consider the same but in the second case we have a metal chassis. I assume the same magnetic field is inducing a current into the chassis...
  35. Asmaa Mohammad

    B The factors determining the induced EMF in a wire

    The induced emf in a straight wire is determined by the equation (emf=Blv sinθ) where θ is the angle between the direction of the motion and the lines of the magnetic field, and frequently, I see diagrams like these explaining the phenomenon: In those pictures the wire is perpendicular to the...
  36. H

    Nichrome Wire foam cutter/heater

    I am planning to build a foam cutter by heating up a piece of nichrome wire. I found that nichrome has a relatively high resistance compared to other conductors and it is the reason why it is used as a heating element. That is what confuses me because I think it only applies for constant voltage...
  37. hackhard

    Resistance from fingertip to Earth wire

    i connected one probe of digital mutimeter to the Earth terminal of domestic ac supply and held the other probe. it showed resistance of 1.8Mohm . but when i touched that end (one i'd held) to the floor. it displays 1( beyond 200Mohm ). why so ? shouldn't resistance be lesser?doesnt any current...
  38. P

    Magnetic field created by a wire acts on the wire itself?

    So here is the problem, it asks me to find the total magnetic field on BA, i made a vectorial sum with the magnetic field generated by i1 and by i2 and i got the right result, but why not adding also the magnetic field generated by the wire itself? I mean generated by CD why isn't that correct...
  39. A

    Fundamental frequency of a wire wheel spoke

    Homework Statement The spoke of a wire wheel is 9.5 cm long, 3.5 mm in diameter, and under tension of 2100 N. The wire is made of steel of density 7860 kg/m3. When struck with a metal tool at its center, the spoke rings at its fundamental frequency. What is that frequency? Homework Equations...
  40. B

    What materials do I need to wire a VFD?

    Hi everyone, I am part of a senior design group that is building a dynonameter to test shocks. We are ordering parts tomorrow morning and so I want to make sure that I am not missing anything. I do not have any experience with VFD's or three phase motors but I am doing my best to research and...
  41. Borek

    How can I reduce noise induced in a wire for my Nixie clock?

    Not sure if I posted it here or elsewhere. I made a Nixie clock controlled with an Arduino. To make it possible to set the clock I have added a button connected with a wire. Pressed button generates an interrupt which I use to "round" the clock up or down to a full minute. The button has a...
  42. D

    Magnetic Field: Inside & Outside Current Carrying Wire

    Hi My question is about magnetic field I mean I know where their formulas are derived from amperes law but I didnt really understand why and how there's is a difference in magnetic fields outside and inside a crrent carrying wire the field inside a current carrying wire is B = μoIr^2/2πR^2 the...
  43. U

    Help with magnetic force from fault current on overhead wire

    I'm trying to resolve an issue I'm experiencing with some overhead power distribution lines, was wondering if anyone can help me out. Here is the scenario: three phase, 4 wire, wye connected 13.4kV power distribution system. 556.5kcmil bare ACRS wire is mounted on a crossarm 24" apart over a...
  44. G

    How Did Stephen Gray Conceptualize Sending Electricity Through a Wire in 1729?

    I have read that in 1729 Stephen Gray, in addition to generating static charges, sends, for the first time, electricity through a wire and coins the words insulator and conductor. What does he think he is sending though the wire, there is not yet a concept of atoms or electrons as we know them...
  45. mikemartinlfs

    Electromagnetic Induction (Long straight wire above circulua

    Homework Statement A circular loop of wire is placed next to a long straight wire. The current I in the long straight wire is increasing. What direction is the current that's induced in the circular loop? Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I'm aware that the answer is clockwise...
  46. Joshua_T

    Potential difference in a wire

    Hi, I have a question about something that I was recently told. They said that if you have a positive charge on one end of a wire and the other end is connected to ground, which they said was negatively charged, a current will be produced due to potential difference. Is this true, and does...
  47. B3NR4Y

    Finding the Magnetic Field Due to a Wire stretching from Infinity to 0

    Homework Statement An intensity current I descends down the z-axis from z = \infty to z = 0, where it spreads out in an isotropic way on the plane z = 0. Compute the magnetic field. Homework Equations The only relevant equation I can think of is Ampere's Law, \oint_\gamma \vec{B} \cdot...
  48. M

    Calculating tension in a wire holding beam against wall

    Hi, this is my first forum post - sorry if I'm in the wrong place, or I've done something wrong! Homework Statement Here goes: There is a beam of 0.5m length hinged to a wall at a right angle with 200N mass at the end of the beam. This is supported by a wire T at angle 30°. The question asks...
  49. C

    Motion of an electron in a nonuniform magnetic field

    Homework Statement An electron is shot towards an infinitely long wire with high current flowing througuh it. Please, look at my "sketch" in the attachment. How will its trajectory be affected? What curve will it be? 2. The attempt at a solution I thought about circular motion, but the fact...
  50. KSNphysics

    Physics Magnetism - Wire Carrying Current in a Loop

    Homework Statement This is a theoretical question, one I'm not sure about. It just randomly popped into my head. Say there is a jumbled wire, one in a glob shape but not overlapping. (Like a deformed circle, or maybe just a rectangle). Assuming we are in a place called "physics utopia" where...
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