Magnetic Field due to a curved wire

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves determining the magnetic field at the center of an arc formed by a right-angle bend in a long straight wire carrying current I. The arc has a radius r and is part of a larger configuration that includes straight segments of the wire.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply the Biot-Savart Law to calculate the magnetic field, considering the contributions from both the arc and the straight segments of the wire. Some participants question the accuracy of the final equation, particularly regarding the denominator and the integration process.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively discussing the calculations and interpretations of the magnetic field contributions. There are differing opinions on the correctness of the final equation, with some suggesting that a factor may have been omitted while others argue that it cancels out during integration.

Contextual Notes

There appears to be some confusion regarding the integration limits and the contributions from different segments of the wire, particularly concerning the angles involved and their impact on the magnetic field calculations.

Dewgale
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Homework Statement


A very long straight wire carries current I. In the middle of the wire a right-angle bbend is made. The bend forms an arc of a circle of radius r, as shown in the figure below. Determine the magnetic field at the center of the arc.

picassignment13.png


Homework Equations


Biot-Savart Law:
##dB = \frac{ \mu (I ds) \times r}{4 \pi r^3}##

The Attempt at a Solution



Since $$B = \frac{\mu}{4 \pi} \int_a^b{\frac{[I ds] \times r}{r^3}},$$ notice that the curve is 1/4 of a circle. Therefore, we can integrate from 0 to ##2 \pi r## and then divide by 4. Therefore, it becomes $$B = \frac{\mu}{4 \pi} \int_0^\frac{\pi r}{2}{\frac{I r sin(90)}{r^3}ds}$$ which simplifies down to $$B = \frac{\mu I}{8 r}$$

The issue that arises now is what to do about the parts that don't form a 90 degree angle with the centre of the arc. I'm unsure about this, but my main thought is this. The magnetic field due to an infinite length of wire is $$B = \frac{\mu I}{2 \pi r}$$ Since each of these segments is only half of such an infinite wire, their magnetic fields ought to each be $$B = \frac{\mu I}{4 \pi r}$$ But since there are two, they ought to add back together by the superposition principle, and by said principle the magnitude of the magnetic field at said point ought to be $$B = \frac{\mu I}{8 r} \ \ + \ \ \frac{\mu I}{2 \pi r}$$ or $$B = \frac{\mu I}{8 \pi r} (\pi +4)$$
 
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That all looks right to me, except I think you left something out of the denominator in the final equation.
 
haruspex said:
That all looks right to me, except I think you left something out of the denominator in the final equation.
Oh yeah, I missed the ##\pi##. Thanks!
 
No he did not. Because if you integrate along the circle line pi cancels out..
 

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