Help with electricity, four wires that carry current

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem involving four wires arranged in a square configuration, each carrying the same current. Participants are tasked with determining the force per unit length on one of the wires, specifically the lower left wire, and are exploring the magnitude and direction of this force.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the need to calculate the force on the lower left wire by considering the contributions from the other three wires. There are attempts to break down the problem into vector components, but uncertainty remains about how to combine these vectors effectively.

Discussion Status

Some participants have offered guidance on using the appropriate formula for the force between current-carrying wires and suggested calculating the forces from each wire separately before summing them. There is an acknowledgment of the need for clarity in the original attempts at a solution.

Contextual Notes

Participants are reminded to show their work and clarify their questions to facilitate more effective assistance. There is an emphasis on careful consideration of the directions of the forces involved.

CookieSalesman
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Homework Statement


So four wires are arranged in a square and all carry the same current "I"
They are all the same distance apart. The two on the left are coming out towards you "O" and the two on the right go away from you "X"

I knew I would need k[itex]I^{2}[/itex] divided by distance, but I"m not sure how to find the force, per unit length on the lower left wire. I have to find the magnitude and direction.
 
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CookieSalesman said:

Homework Statement


So four wires are arranged in a square and all carry the same current "I"
They are all the same distance apart. The two on the left are coming out towards you "O" and the two on the right go away from you "X"

I knew I would need k[itex]I^{2}[/itex] divided by distance, but I"m not sure how to find the force, per unit length on the lower left wire. I have to find the magnitude and direction.
You need to show an attempt at a solution before we can help you.
 
:-l

I have.
I try to set it up so that I can break things into vectors in X and Y for both, but I'm not sure how to put together an answer.
 
CookieSalesman said:
:-l

I have.
I try to set it up so that I can break things into vectors in X and Y for both, but I'm not sure how to put together an answer.
What is the question you are trying to answer ?
 
What you have done is too vague.
Do you know the formula for the force on one current carrying wire due to another one?
Did you try working out the force due to each of the other three wires separately, then summing the vectors?
This is like the square of point charges problems you have done before only with magnetism.
 
Okay.
Well that should be (k I^2)/distance right?
I'll try that.
 

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