Two long, parallel wires are separated by a distance of 2.60 cm. The force per unit length that each wire exerts on the other is 4.30×10^−5 N/m, and the wires repel each other. The current in one wire is 0.520 A. Required:a. What is the current in the second wire? b. Are the two currents in the same direction or in opposite directions?

10.75 A

The current is in opposite direction since it causes a repulsion force between the wires

Explanation:

Force per unit length on the wires = 4.30×10^−5 N/m

distance between wires = 2.6 cm = 0.026 m

current through one wire = 0.52 A

current on the other wire = ?

Recall that the force per unit length of two wires conducting and lying parallel and close to each other is given as

=

where is the force per unit length on the wires

= permeability of vacuum = 4π × 10^−7 T-m/A

= current on the first wire = 0.520 A

= current on the other wire = ?

r = the distance between the two wire = 0.026 m

substituting the value into the equation, we have

4.30×10^−5 = =  

4.30×10^−5 = 4 x 10^-6

= (4.30×10^-5)/(4 x 10^-6) = 10.75 A

The current is in opposite direction since it causes a repulsion force between the wires.

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