Zero B Field Inside within Hollow Wire

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around determining the radius at which the magnetic field B equals zero within a hollow cylindrical wire carrying a current. The problem involves applying Ampere's Law to find the enclosed current as a function of the radius. A participant initially calculated the radius as 0.19 m but questioned the correctness of their approach. Feedback suggests that the expression for the enclosed current should account for the area of the annulus, indicating a potential error in the calculations. The conclusion emphasizes the need to correctly apply Ampere's Law to resolve the issue.
Amrator
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Homework Statement


A long, thin wire carrying constant current I1 = 2 A into the page is surrounded by a concentric cylindrical hollow wire of inner radius a = 0.12 m, and outer radius b= 0.26 m, carrying total current I2 = 4 A directed out of the page, as shown. Assume the current in the cylindrical hollow wire is distributed uniformly over its cross-sectional area.

fig17.gif


At what radius is B = 0 in the region a < r < b inside the hollow wire?

(A) .19 m
(B) .20 m
(C) .21 m
(D) .25 m
(E) The magnetic field is not zero anywhere inside the hollow wire.

Homework Equations


Ampere's Law

The Attempt at a Solution


Using ratios:
##I_r → 2π(r-a)##
##I_b → 2π(b-a)##
##I_{enc} = I_2 \frac{I_r}{I_b} - I_1 = (4A) \frac{r-a}{b-a} - I_1##
##b-a = .14##
##\frac{r-.12}{.14} = 1/2##
##r = .19 m##

The answer however is not A. What am I doing wrong?
 
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$$|\mathbf{B}| = \frac{\mu_0 I_{enc}}{2\pi r} $$

I am not sure you are correctly expressing ##I_{enc}## as a function of ##r##. It is going to be related to the area of an annulus. So I would expect to see ##r^2## somewhere in your work.
 
Amrator said:
The answer however is not A. What am I doing wrong?
Apply Ampere's law anywhere in the region a < r < b. What do you get?
 
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