Force between Parallel Wires Carrying Current

When three long straight wires are parallel and equally spaced with identical current, the force acting on each wire due to the other can be determined using the following steps:

Step 1: Determine the direction of the magnetic field produced by one wire.

- According to the right-hand rule, the direction of the magnetic field produced by a current-carrying wire can be determined by curling the fingers of the right hand in the direction of the current.
- The thumb then points in the direction of the magnetic field produced by the wire.

Step 2: Determine the direction of the force on one wire due to the magnetic field produced by another wire.

- The direction of the force on a wire due to the magnetic field produced by another wire can be determined by the right-hand rule for the force on a current-carrying wire in a magnetic field.
- If the thumb of the right hand points in the direction of the current in the wire, and the fingers point in the direction of the magnetic field, then the palm of the hand will point in the direction of the force on the wire.

Step 3: Calculate the magnitude of the force on one wire due to the magnetic field produced by another wire.

- The magnitude of the force on a wire due to the magnetic field produced by another wire can be calculated using the formula: F = BIL, where F is the force, B is the magnetic field, I is the current, and L is the length of the wire in the magnetic field.

Step 4: Calculate the net force on each wire.

- The net force on each wire can be calculated by summing up the forces due to the other two wires.
- Since the wires are equally spaced, the forces will be equal in magnitude but opposite in direction for the two adjacent wires.
- Therefore, the net force on each wire will be zero.

Conclusion: When three long straight wires are parallel and equally spaced with identical current, the force acting on each wire due to the other will be zero.