Paper 2, Section II, B

Electromagnetism
Part IB, 2012

A straight wire has nn mobile, charged particles per unit length, each of charge qq. Assuming the charges all move with velocity vv along the wire, show that the current is I=nqvI=n q v.

Using the Lorentz force law, show that if such a current-carrying wire is placed in a uniform magnetic field of strength BB perpendicular to the wire, then the force on the wire, per unit length, is BIB I.

Consider two infinite parallel wires, with separation LL, carrying (in the same sense of direction) positive currents I1I_{1} and I2I_{2}, respectively. Find the force per unit length on each wire, determining both its magnitude and direction.