Two conducting loops carry equal currents in the samedirection (one loops is abo

Question

Two conducting loops carry equal currents in the samedirection (one loops is above the other, both have currents in thecounterclockwise direction). If the current in the upper loopsuddently drops to zero, what will happen to the current in thelower loop according to Lenz's Law? I feel that without current the upper loop would lose itsmagnetic field so the lower loop would have to increase its currentin the same direction to oppose/compensate for the loss of thefield in the upper loop but I am struggling with this topic. Any insight would be greatly appreciated! Thanks. Two conducting loops carry equal currents in the samedirection (one loops is above the other, both have currents in thecounterclockwise direction). If the current in the upper loopsuddently drops to zero, what will happen to the current in thelower loop according to Lenz's Law? I feel that without current the upper loop would lose itsmagnetic field so the lower loop would have to increase its currentin the same direction to oppose/compensate for the loss of thefield in the upper loop but I am struggling with this topic. Any insight would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

Explanation / Answer

Right when the current in upper loop shuts off, there is a changein the magnetic field surrounding the lower loop. This change inthe magnetic field induces a current in the lower loop in adirection that will minimize the change in the magnetic fieldthrough the lower loop. Now before the current is shut off, themagnetic field is upwards through the bottom loop. When the currentis shut off, in the top loop, a induced current arises in thebottom loop in the counterclockwise direction to minimize thechange in the magnetic flux through the bottom loop. So the currentin the bottom loop will INCREASE temporarily when the top loopshuts off. It is initially in the counterclockwise direction, andthen an extra induced current is produced in the counterclockwisedirection It is not a permanent change however. I EDITED this post due to a typo

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