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Two very long parallel wires in the xy-plane, a distance 2a apart, are parallel

ID: 1631922 • Letter: T

Question

Two very long parallel wires in the xy-plane, a distance 2a apart, are parallel to the y-axis and carry equal currents I as shown in the figure. The +z direction points perpendicular to the xy-plane in a right-handed coordinate system. If the left current flows in the +y direction and the right current flows in the -y direction, which one of the graphs shown in the figure below best represents the z component of the net magnetic field, in the xy-plane, as a function of x? (Caution: These graphs are not magnetic field lines.)

Explanation / Answer

The figure which represents the z-component of the net magnetic field in the xy plane as a function of x, is:

figure (3)