Question

Two long parallel wires placed side-by-side on a horizontal table carry identical size currents in opposite directions. The wire on your right carries current toward you, and the wire on your left carries current away from you. From your point of view, the magnetic field at the point exactly midway between the two wiresA) points away from you.B) is zero.C) points toward you.D) points down.E) points up.

Answer 1

Answer:

D) Points down

Explanation:

We can find the direction of the magnetic field produced by each of the wire by using the right hand rule:

- the thumb must correspond to the direction of the current in the wire

- the other fingers wrap around the thumb and gives the direction of the magnetic field lines

For the wire on the right, we have:

- thumb (current): towards you

- other fingers (magnetic field): at the left of the wire, they point down

For the wire on the left, we have:

- thumb (current): away from you

- other fingers (magnetic field): at the right of the wire, they point down

So, both magnetic fields point down at the point halfway between the two wires, so the net field is also pointing down.