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posted by  El Guapo on 11/7/2009 9:33:06 AM  |  status: Closed  |  Earned Karma: 25

Compute the magnetic force on a wire

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N/A N/A N/A N/A 11/10/2009 at 2:00:00 PM
Question Details:
Determine the magnetic force on a very thin wire, which follows a simicircular curve of radius R = 4m, and lies in the upper half of the x-y plane with its center at the origen.
There is a constant current i = 2 A flowing counterclockwise, starting upward from the end of the of the wire on the positive x-axis and ending downward at the end of the negative x-axis. 
The wire is in a uniform magnetic field B = 3 T.  The field B is in a direction parallel to the z-axis.
(Solution check: 48 N in the y direction).  Please show step-by-step solution.  Thank you.
Tags: Physics
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posted by Golden Monkey on 11/7/2009 11:51:20 AM  |  status: Live
Asker's Rating: Lifesaver   
Response Details:
The current in the half-loop goes in the negative x direction and also goes in the positive y direction and then the negative y direction.
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The B field in the z direction applies force to current in x direction and current in y direction. But here's the trick:
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         Since the current goes in the positive and then negative y directions, the force on the current in the y direction cancels out. The total force on the "y current" is zero!
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This means that the total force on the half-circle is only on the current that moves in the x direction. The total length of the "x current is just   2R (i.e. the distance the current moves in the x direction). So now...
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     force on current in B field  =  L I B  =   2 R I B  =  2 * 4 * 2 * 3  =   48 N
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And the direction? This is found using the right hand rule. The direction of force is the direction of  current (cross) B field, which in your case is    negative x  (cross)  z .   The result of this is   positive y.
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So total force on the half-circle is    48 N in the +y direction
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