Question

Two parallel wires separated by 4.00cm repel each other with a force per unit length of 2.00×10⁻⁴ N/m . The current in one wire is 5.00 A. (b) Are the currents in the same direction or in opposite directions?

Answer 1

The currents in the wires are in opposite directions.

• Two long parallel wires separated by a distance 'r' having current $I_1$ and $I_2$  have force per unit length which is given by   $f=\frac{u_0 I_1I_2}{2\pi r}$.....(1)  where $u_0$ is permittivity of free space whose value is $4\pi \times10^{-7}Tm/A$ .

If the current flowing through the wire are in same direction then they the wire attract each other and if the current flowing through the wire are opposite in direction then they the wire repel each other .

As it is given that two wires repel each other which means that current in the wires are in opposite direction .

Hence current flowing through wires are opposite in direction.

Learn more about force per unit length here :

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