Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 2]
- Exam
- Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 2]
- Subject
- Physics
- Chapter
- Magnetic Field due to a Current
Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 2] · Physics · Magnetic Field due to a Current
An electric current i is carried by a wire of length l which is...
An electric current is carried by a wire of length which is bent into an equilateral triangle. Determine the magnetic field at the centre.
Options
- A
- B
- C
- D
Correct answer
B.
Step-by-step solution
Let the length of each side of the equilateral triangle be . Since the total length of the wire is , we have .
The perpendicular distance from the centroid (center) of the equilateral triangle to any of its sides is given by:
The magnetic field at the center due to one side of the triangle can be found using the Biot-Savart law for a finite straight wire:
For an equilateral triangle, the line segments joining the center to the vertices subtend an angle of at the center. The perpendicular bisects this angle, giving .
Substituting the values:
B_1 = B is the sum of the fields due to all three sides:
\dfrac{9 \mu_0 i}{2\pi l} = \dfrac{27 \mu_0 i}{2\pi l}
The perpendicular distance from the centroid (center) of the equilateral triangle to any of its sides is given by:
The magnetic field at the center due to one side of the triangle can be found using the Biot-Savart law for a finite straight wire:
For an equilateral triangle, the line segments joining the center to the vertices subtend an angle of at the center. The perpendicular bisects this angle, giving .
Substituting the values:
B_1 = B is the sum of the fields due to all three sides:
\dfrac{9 \mu_0 i}{2\pi l} = \dfrac{27 \mu_0 i}{2\pi l}