Can the Biot-Savart Law be applied to point P_1 outside a finite wire?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the application of the Biot-Savart Law to determine the magnetic field at a point outside a finite wire. The original poster questions whether the established equation for the magnetic field at a point along the wire can also be applied to a point not located within the wire's boundaries.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the applicability of the Biot-Savart Law to a point outside the wire, with some questioning the definition of variables involved, particularly the coordinate system used.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing exploration of the conditions under which the Biot-Savart Law can be applied. Some participants have provided guidance on the importance of correctly defining the variables, while others are still clarifying their understanding of the setup.

Contextual Notes

Participants note potential omissions in the original poster's reasoning, particularly regarding the coordinates and their implications for applying the law. There is an acknowledgment of the need for careful consideration of the variables involved.

czmat
Hi,
I've got a question regarding application of the Biot-savart law along finite wire.
There is a great explenation of this problem in the MIT paper but this does not cover one case.

1. Homework Statement

My question is: does the equation defining magnetic field in point P(x,y) also applies to the point P_1(x,y) (as in the picture below) which is not in boundaries of the wire?
inFOYwS.jpg


Homework Equations


Magnetic field in point P(x,y) (as in the above figure) along finite wire is:
BT5SBz7.jpg

The Attempt at a Solution


My guess is: yes, just because I can put P_1 coordinates in the equation, but intuition tells me that I am omitting something and unfortunately I don't know what.
 
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czmat said:
My question is: does the equation defining magnetic field in point P(x,y) also applies to the point P_1(x,y) (as in the picture below) which is not in boundaries of the wire?
Yes, but you have to be careful with how you apply Biot-Savart, specifically what is x. You are omitting x1 from the picture.
 
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In that case I would define x as
x=L/2 + x_1
 
Yes.
 
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