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Q.Obtain the expression for the force between two straight long parallel conductors carrying current. Hence define "ampere".

Karnataka PUCKarnataka II PUC Board 2020Subjective· 5mImportance★★★★★
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Wire 1's field at wire 2 is B1=μ0I12πrB_1=\dfrac{\mu_0 I_1}{2\pi r}; force on length LL of wire 2 is F=B1I2LF=B_1 I_2 L, so FL=μ0I1I22πr\dfrac{F}{L}=\dfrac{\mu_0 I_1 I_2}{2\pi r}. Ampere is defined from F/L=2×10−7F/L=2\times10^{-7} N/m at r=1r=1 m with I1=I2=1I_1=I_2=1 A.

Concept. A current-carrying wire produces a magnetic field; a second current-carrying wire placed in that field experiences a force. So two parallel currents exert equal and opposite forces on each other.

Field of wire 1 at wire 2. For a long straight wire carrying current I1I_1, the field at perpendicular distance rr is

B1=μ0I12πr,B_1 = \frac{\mu_0 I_1}{2\pi r},

directed perpendicular to wire 2.

Force on wire 2. A length LL of wire 2 carrying current I2I_2 in this field experiences

F=B1I2L=μ0I1I2L2πr.F = B_1 I_2 L = \frac{\mu_0 I_1 I_2 L}{2\pi r}.

Hence force per unit length:

FL=μ0I1I22πr.\boxed{\frac{F}{L} = \frac{\mu_0 I_1 I_2}{2\pi r}}.

By Fleming's left-hand rule, currents in the same direction attract and in opposite directions repel.

Definition of ampere. Put I1=I2=1 AI_1=I_2=1\,\text{A} and r=1 mr=1\,\text{m} in vacuum (μ0=4π×10−7 T m A−1\mu_0=4\pi\times10^{-7}\,\text{T m A}^{-1}): …

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