Find the magnetic field at the point

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the magnetic field produced by a short segment of a straight wire carrying a current. The wire is oriented along the z-axis, and the magnetic field is to be determined at a specific point in space defined by its coordinates.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the integration limits for the magnetic field calculation, with some suggesting that the wire segment can be treated as located at the origin due to its small length compared to the distance from the point of interest. Others question the appropriateness of using Ampere's Law for this scenario.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the problem setup and the implications of the wire's length relative to the distance involved. Some guidance has been offered regarding the integration limits and the treatment of the wire segment.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of previous answers being significantly different in magnitude, which raises questions about the correctness of the current calculations. Participants are also considering the nature of the function involved in the integration.

Stendhal
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Homework Statement


A long, straight wire lies along the z−axis and carries a 4.20 −A current in the +z−direction. Find the magnetic field (magnitude and direction) produced at the following points by a 0.400 −mm segment of the wire centered at the origin.

Homework Equations



## \vec B ## = 2 ## \frac {μ_0} {4π} ## ## \int_0^.0004 ## ## \frac {I*d\vec s \times \hat r} {r^2}##

x = 2 meters, y = 2meters, z=0

## d\vec s \times \hat r ## = ds*sin(Θ)

The Attempt at a Solution


I took the original equation, which is from the Biot-Savart Law, and simplified the cross product using the algebraic definition above, such that the problem simplifies into:

## \vec B ## = 2 ## \frac {μ_0 I} {4π} ## ## \int_0^.0004 ## ## \frac {ds*sin(Θ)} {r^2}##

Where the angle is that between the z-axis and the hypotenuse, such that sin(Θ) can be described as:
sin(Θ) = ##\frac {\sqrt (x^2+y^2)} {r}##

which gives

## \vec B ## = 2 ## \frac {μ_0 I \sqrt(8)} {4π} ## ## \int_0^.0004 ## ## \frac {ds} {\sqrt(s^2 +2^2 +2^2)^3}##

Which, when I solve gives me the answer for the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field of
##8.4*10^{-15} T## which doesn't seem right at all, since previous answers to some other parts of this problem were in around ^-11. Any help is greatly appreciated!
 
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It says centered at the origin, so I think your integration range is wrong.

The wire length is so small compared to √8 m that I don't think you need to integrate at all. Just treat the whole segment as being at the origin.
 
Since it it centered at the origin, the integration would be ##\int_-.0002^.0002 ## which I believed could be changed to 2 ##\int_0^.0004## Though that is wrong because the function is odd, not even.Also, since the wire length is so small compared to ##\sqrt 8##, would it be possible to solve this using Ampere's Law to find the magnitude?
 
Stendhal said:
the function is odd, not even.
No, it is even.
Stendhal said:
would it be possible to solve this using Ampere's Law to find the magnitude?
Just drop the s2 in the denominator, making it constant over the range. Assuming everything else is right.
 

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