Two very long straight parallel wires 1 and 2 are separated by a small distance and carry the same current I. The current in wire 1 flows out of the page and that in wire 2 flows into the page. What is the direction of the magnetic field at point P due to the current in the wires? Point P is equidistant from the wires as shown in the figure below.
Two very long straight parallel wires 1 and 2 are separated by a small distance and carry the same current I. The current in wire 1 flows out of the page and that in wire 2 flows into the page. What is the direction of the magnetic field at point P due to the current in the wires? Point P is equidistant from the wires as shown in the figure below.
The correct option is C Upward
The magnetic field lines due to each wire form closed loops around the wire and the tangent to the magnetic field line at point P will give the direction of the magnetic field at that point due to the wire. By using the right hand thumb rule, it is clear that the magnetic field due to each wire points upward at point P so the net field which is a vector sum of the magnetic field due to each wire is upward.
Upward
The magnetic field lines due to each wire form closed loops around the wire and the tangent to the magnetic field line at point P will give the direction of the magnetic field at that point due to the wire. By using the right hand thumb rule, it is clear that the magnetic field due to each wire points upward at point P so the net field which is a vector sum of the magnetic field due to each wire is upward.
