In: Physics
To practice Problem-Solving Strategy 29.1 The magnetic field of a current.
A long wire carries current I. The wire is straight except for one square-shaped halt-loop KLMN as shown. (Figure 1) Find the magnitude and the direction of the magnetic field Bat point P. Assume that d is a known quantity.
The picture below shows an incomplete pictorial representation of the situation described in this problem. For symmetry reasons, the coordinate system is chosen so that its origin coincides with the point P at which you want to calculate the magnetic field, and the wire lies in the xy plane. The z axis is perpendicular to the page, pointing out of to the page.
As outlined in the strategy above, the wire has been divided into very short segments. For clarity, only one of these segments, segment K of length delta x, is shown in the diagram. In what direction is the magnetic field Bk at P due to segment k alone?