How Does the Biot-Savart Law Apply to Uneven Currents in a Split Loop?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a circular conducting ring with a radius of 10.7 cm, connected to two straight wires that create uneven current distributions in the semicircles of the ring. The currents are I1 = 3.8 A in the top semicircle and I2 = 10 A in the bottom semicircle, and the task is to determine the magnetic field (B) at the center of the ring using the Biot-Savart Law.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss applying the Biot-Savart Law to each semicircle and consider the need to account for the direction and signs of the magnetic fields produced by the uneven currents. There is uncertainty about how to correctly add the magnetic fields due to differing current directions.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring the implications of current direction on the magnetic field signs. Some guidance has been provided regarding the need to consider the vector nature of the magnetic fields, but there is still confusion about the correct approach to combining them.

Contextual Notes

Participants are grappling with the implications of the current directions in the semicircles and how this affects the signs of the resulting magnetic fields. There is a hint regarding the importance of signs, which has led to further questioning and exploration of assumptions.

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Homework Statement


A circular conducting ring or radius R = 10.7 cm is connected to two exterior straight wires ending at two ends of a diameter (see Figure). The current splits into uneven portions, with I1 = 3.8 A passing through the top semicircle, and I2 = 10 A passing through the lower semicircle. What is B at the center of the ring?
HELP: Apply the Biot-Savart Law to each semicircle. Adding the two resulting B fields, being careful to keep track of their signs.
https://wug-s.physics.uiuc.edu/cgi/courses/shell/common/showme.pl?cc/Knox/phys130a/spring/homework/14/02/P28_31.jpg

Homework Equations


B=\mu0I(\pir)/4\pir2 (for each half circle)

The Attempt at a Solution


I used the equation I put above, and found that the B field for the first current was 1.114e-5 (B1=(4\pix10-7)(3.8)/(4\pi)(.10702 (\pi.107)) and the second current gave me 2.935e-5. From there I tried simply adding them, to give me a total of 4.049e-5. This is incorrect. So I figured they might be vectors, and tried using pythagorean on them (\sqrt{(1.114e-5)^2+(2.935e-5)^2}) and got 3.139e-5. this is also incorrect.
I figure I'm doing something wrong, but I'm not sure what. The hint says to be sure to pay attention to the signs of the B fields, but I don't see where I would get something other than a positive sign.
 
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What is the method of finding the direction of the magnetic field due to current carrying conductor?
Since the directions of the current in two semicircles is not the same, the signs of the fields must be different.
 
rl.bhat said:
What is the method of finding the direction of the magnetic field due to current carrying conductor?
Since the directions of the current in two semicircles is not the same, the signs of the fields must be different.

But aren't the directions the same? Both currents are going to the right.
 
In semicircle direction should be either clockwise or counterclockwise.
 
Oh. Okay, I got it now, thanks. :)
 

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