Solving the Mystery of Parallel Wires & Magnetic Fields

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of parallel wires carrying electric currents, specifically focusing on the effects of current direction on their interaction. The original poster expresses confusion about the movement of wires with identical currents in the same direction and seeks to understand the implications for wires carrying currents in opposite directions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants suggest visualizing the magnetic fields around the wires and applying the right-hand rule to understand the forces acting on the electrons. There is a focus on the implications of current direction and how it affects the interaction between the wires.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing guidance on how to approach the problem. There is an emphasis on understanding the magnetic fields and forces involved, but no consensus has been reached regarding the original poster's confusion about the scenarios presented.

Contextual Notes

The original poster indicates a lack of understanding regarding the fundamental concepts of magnetic fields and forces due to the current directions in the wires, which may limit their ability to attempt the question posed.

hiljd
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Homework Statement



Not too difficult really, but I'm not understanding why two wires with identical currents running through them will move together. The question is, 'what happens when two parallel wires carry identical currents in oppsite directions?' But I don't understand what happens when they carry them in the same direction, so can't atempt this question.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution

 
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Thread moved from Advanced Physics to Intro Physics.

Start by drawing the magnetic field that circulates around the wire axis for each wire. Now, the electrons that are moving in a nearby wire will be affected by that circulating magnetic field in what way? Remember to use the right-hand rule to figure out the direction of the force on the moving electron charges in the magnetic field.
 
The following will probably help you:
1)Ampere`s law
2)Laplace force + Right-hand rule
 
http://www.physics4students.com/pages/dataDump/rightHandRule.jpg
Take a look at the top picture. The magnetic field at a point to the right of the wire points into the screen. A bar magnet would have its north pole into the screen and its south pole out of the screen. If an identical second wire is placed to the right of that, its field would point into the screen. A bar magnet to the left of the second wire would have its south pole into the screen and its north pole out of the screen. Now we have 2 magnets arranged north-south and south-north, which will attract each other
 
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