If we place two current-carrying conductors near each other, they will exert some magnetic force on each other. A magnetic field exists due to a current-carrying conductor and Biot – Savart’s law. As specified by the Lorentz force formula, an external magnetic field exerts a force on a current-carrying conductor. When two current-carrying conductors carry current in opposite directions, they will repel each other. In contrast, when these two current-carrying conductors carry current in the same direction, then they attract each other. The magnitude of the force acting per unit length can be described as follows:
Where the distance in between two parallel current carrying conductors is ‘d’, the first conductor is carrying a current I1, and the second is carrying I2.
Read More – Parallel Current Carrying Conductor
Important Questions with Answers
1. What are the applications of Ampere’s law?
Ampere’s law can be used to:
- Calculate the magnetic field inside a toroid.
- Determine the forces acting between currents.
- Determine the magnetic induction caused by a long wire carrying current.
- Calculate the magnetic field within the conductor.
- Determine the magnetic field produced by a long conducting cylinder carrying a current.
2. What is meant by a magnetic field?
The region around a magnetic material or a moving electric charge where the magnetism’s force acts is known as the magnetic field.
3. Which scientist conducted experiments on forces that act on current-carrying wires?
- Nikola Tesla
- André-Marie Ampère
- Benjamin Franklin
- Alessandro Volta
Answer – b. André-Marie Ampère
4. What happens if two parallel wires carry current in the same direction?
When two current-carrying conductors carry current in opposite directions, they will repel each other. In contrast, when these two current-carrying conductors carry current in the same direction, then they attract each other. By using Fleming’s left-hand rule, this can be demonstrated.
5. What happens when current flows through two parallel conductors?
If the current flows in the same direction in both parallel conductors, the force between them is attractive. The force is repulsive if the conductor’s current flows in the opposite direction.
6. Do parallel conductors attract one another?
In a series circuit, the wires repel one another, but in a parallel circuit, the wires attract one another. This is illustrated using the right-hand rule, which helps comprehend how a magnetic field flows around a wire.
7. What is the force direction between two parallel wires carrying opposite currents?
Two parallel wires carrying current in opposite directions can repel each other and try to move away from each other.
8. When the current is parallel to the magnetic field, what does a current-carrying conductor express the force in a uniform magnetic field?
a. Zero
b. One
c. Three
d. Two
Answer – a. Zero
Explanation – When the force is parallel to the magnetic field, it is zero.
9. What happens when a current-carrying conductor is positioned in a magnetic field?
When an electric current floats through a conductor, it produces a magnetic field surrounding it. The wire and magnet exert equal and opposite forces on each other during the interaction between the magnetic field of this conductor and the magnetic field of the magnet.
10. Which rule may be used to find the force between the two conductors?
a. Left-hand thumb rule
b. Fleming’s right-hand rule
c. Maxwell’s right hand thumb rule
d. None of the above
Answer – b. Fleming’s right-hand rule
Explanation – When two current-carrying conductors are kept parallel, we can find the direction of force by using Fleming’s left hand rule.
11. Why do two wires carrying opposite currents resist each other?
When two current-carrying conductors carry current in the same direction, they attract each other. If the currents flow in two parallel wires in opposing directions, it generates repulsion by producing comparable magnetic poles near the wires. Two current-carrying conductors attract each other when the currents are in the same direction and repel each other when the currents are in the opposite direction, according to experimental data.
12. Do parallel currents attract one another?
Parallel wires carrying current in the same direction attract each other; this can be demonstrated by using the right-hand rule; parallel wires with opposing current flows repel one other.
13. State Biot-Savart law.
According to the Biot Savart law, the magnetic field due to a current carrying conductor at any point is,
- Directly proportional to – the current flowing in the conductor, the length of the conductor and the sine angle between the line joining the current carrying conductor and the direction of the current
- Inversely proportional to – the square of the distance between the conductor at the point and the centre of the conductor.
Practice Questions
1. When the current direction is reversed, the magnetic field direction also reverses.
- True
- False
2. What is the unit of the magnetic field?
3. What is the force between two parallel current-carrying conductors?
4. State and explain Ampere’s circuital law.
5. What is the force per unit length relation between two parallel conductors carrying current?
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