Physics Puzzle: Magnetic Field Generated by Approximation of a Flower

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics puzzle involving the magnetic field generated by an approximation of a flower shape created from straight lines and arcs. Participants are asked to consider various factors affecting the magnetic field at the center of the figure when a current flows along the lines and arcs. The scope includes conceptual reasoning and potential homework-related inquiry.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Homework-related, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether there will be a magnetic field at the center of the figure based on the described configuration.
  • Another participant suggests that increasing the number of "petals" could affect the magnetic field, but does not specify how.
  • There is a proposal to consider reducing the number of petals to simplify the problem, potentially to just one or two petals, to better understand the magnetic field's behavior.
  • A different viewpoint asserts that there will be no magnetic field at the center, claiming that flowers cannot be magnetized, which challenges the premise of the other questions.
  • One participant expresses difficulty in solving the problem, indicating ongoing uncertainty in their understanding.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not appear to reach a consensus. There are competing views regarding the existence of a magnetic field and how various parameters might influence it.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about the nature of the flower approximation and its magnetic properties, which remain unresolved. The implications of the current's flow and the geometric configuration are also not fully explored.

cpcolts
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Here's an attachment.

A poor artist might approximate a flower as a series of straight lines and arcs such as that shown below. We could caracterize the flower by specifying the inner and outer radii, and the inner and outer angles (shown). If a current I flows around along the lines and arcs, a magnetic field may be generated at the center of the figure. For the figure as drawn, please answer each of the following questions.
Will there be a magnetic field at the center?
If there is a field, would increasing the number of "petals" make the field bigger? Smaller? No effect?
If there is a field, and with the other variables fixed, will increasing Router make the field bigger? Smaller? No effect?
If there is a field, and with the other variables fixed, would making outer bigger and inner smaller make the field bigger? Smaller? No effect?
 

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Have you at least attempted to solve this?
 
Sounds like homework...
as a start consider reducing the number of petals...maybe to two opposite...or even just one...easier to figure out what happens...
 
The answer to the first question is 'no'; flowers can't be magnetized. That negates the remainder of the questions.
 
yea. I've tried figuring it out but had no luck so far
 

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