Magnetic Force on a Wire with a Changing Direction of Current

[Andy111]

Homework Statement

A segment of wire carries a current of 62 A along the x-axis from x=-6m to x=0 and then along the z-axis from z=0 to z=2.9m. The magnetic field is equal to 110 mT in the positive z direction.

What is the magnitude of the force on this segment of wire? Answer in units of N.

Homework Equations

F=ILBsin\theta

F= magnetic force
I= current
L= length of wire
B= magnetic field
sin\theta = the angle

The Attempt at a Solution

First I tried finding the length of the hypotenuse of the wire and the angle, then use the other given variables to solve for F, but I didn't think that was right.

 

[Kurret]

do you really mean that both the wire and the magnetic field is along the z-axis (and not the y-axis)? If both are along the z-axis, no force will will act on that part.

 

[paralian]

I think the only part of the wire that matters is the part that isn't parallel to the magnetic field (ie from -6 to 0 along the x axis, which is perpendicular to the field).

 

[Andy111]

Yes, it is the z-axis, not the y.

So is the equation just going to be F=6x62x0.11?