Infinitely Long Wire with Loop (Magnetic Field)

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves determining the magnetic field at a point O due to infinitely long wires, some of which have loops and semi-loops, with a constant current I. Participants are exploring the contributions of various wire configurations to the magnetic field at point O.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the magnetic field contributions from different wire configurations, questioning how sections of wire contribute to the overall field. There are inquiries about the effects of gaps in the wire and how to account for them in calculations.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on how to approach the problem, suggesting that certain sections of wire do not contribute to the magnetic field. There is an ongoing exploration of the relationships between the magnetic fields from the loops and the infinite wire, with various interpretations being considered.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of homework rules, which may limit the information they can use or the methods they can apply. There is also a noted confusion regarding the contributions of different wire sections and the overall setup of the problem.

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Homework Statement



The wires below are infinitely long and some of them are with loops and semi loops. The current I is constant. What is the magnetic field in point O, when R is the distance from it?

Questions:
In F, E and H, the magnetic field exerted by the terminal infinitely long wire is 0 because it is 180 degrees?
If the loop is a semi-circle, I use B/2? If the loop is a quarter of a circle, then B/4 and so on?

How to solve for G?


Homework Equations



B= μI/2R
B=2μI/4piR

The Attempt at a Solution



I included in my calculations the magnetic fields of both the infinite wire and the loop.

A: μI/2R Outwards
B: μI/2R + 2μI/4piR Outwards
C: μI/2R - 2μI/4piR Outwards
D: μI/2R - μI/2R +2μI/8piR = 2μI/8piR Inwards
E: 2μI/8piR Inwards
F: μI/2R + 2μI/16piR Inwards
G: ?
H: μI/2R + 2μI/8piR + μI/2R Inwards
 

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You are asked to find the field at point O right?
Then yes: EF and H have sections of wire that do not contribute.
If B is the field of a complete loop, then an 1/nth of a loop contributes B/n.

You have equations:
BL = μI/2R <---<<< for the field center of a current loop radius R
BW =2μI/4piR=μI/(2piR) <---<<< the field radial distance R from infinite straight wire

This makes for a nice way to summarize your answers to make double-checking easy:

If we make BW=B, then BL=pi.B

Using + to indicate "into the page"
Your answers are:

A: -B
B: -(pi+1)B (what is the total current at the place the loop and the wire meet?)
C: -(pi-1)B (there is another difference between C and B)
D: +(pi-pi+1/2)B = B/2 (are you saying the two wires cancel out? Check by RH rule.)
E: +B/2 (which is half that due to a wire - does that make sense?)
F: +(pi+1/4)B
G: ?
H: +(pi + 1/2 +pi)

... I think one of us got confused between the contributions of the wire and that of the loop-section.

Checking:
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/HBASE/magnetic/curloo.html#c2
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/magnetic/magcur.html

$$B_L=\frac{\mu_0 I}{2R}=\pi\frac{\mu_0 I}{2\pi R}=\pi B_W$$

For some of them, only half the wire contributes to the field.
Did you check that the final direction you gave is that for the net field - i.e. a negative magnitude into the page is a positive magnitude out of the page - so the net direction is "outwards".

For G - it's the same as the others: what's the problem?
 
Last edited:
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Thank you for your help!
I confused the two equations, sorry.

My answers now:
A: -B
B: -(pi+1)B The current is NI, which is 2I? So the loop’s magnetic field is μ2I/2R= μI/R.
C: +(+pi-1)B The wires don’t meet, so the current stays the same?
D: +(2+1/2pi)B
E: +pi.B/2
F: +(1/4pi+1)B
G: +(2+1/2pi)B
H: +(1 +1/2pi)Byes, these are all net directions, assuming I'm correct.
 
Last edited:
It's interesting about the gap in C isn't it?
It may just be that the gap is supposed to be invisibly small and shown large for emphasis.
I think you have the right of it: one subtracts the wire while the other adds it.

Sometimes you have to account for gaps by subtracting the field that would otherwise be present.

You seem to have a handle on what's required enough to check your own math - well done.
 

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