Two long parallel wires P and Q are held perpendicular to the plane o...
Concept: The magnetic field due to a long straight wire carrying current is given by the formula B = µ0I/2πr where µ0 is the permeability of free space, I is the current in the wire and r is the perpendicular distance from the wire to the point where magnetic field is to be calculated.
Calculation: Given,
Distance between the wires, d = 5 m
Current in wire P, I1 = 2.5 A
Current in wire Q, I2 = 5 A
We need to find the magnetic field at a point half-way between the wires.
Let us consider a point O which is half-way between the wires as shown in the figure below:
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From the figure, we can see that the perpendicular distance from wire P to point O is r1 = d/2 = 2.5 m and the perpendicular distance from wire Q to point O is r2 = d/2 = 2.5 m.
Using the formula B = µ0I/2πr, the magnetic field at point O due to wire P is:
B1 = µ0I1/2πr1 = µ0(2.5)/2π(2.5) = µ0/π
Similarly, the magnetic field at point O due to wire Q is:
B2 = µ0I2/2πr2 = µ0(5)/2π(2.5) = 2µ0/π
The magnetic field at point O due to the two wires is the vector sum of the magnetic fields due to each wire. Since the wires are carrying current in the same direction, the magnetic fields add up.
B = B1 + B2 = µ0/π + 2µ0/π = 3µ0/π
Now, we need to find the magnetic field at a point half-way between the wires. The distance between the wires is d = 5 m, so the distance from each wire to the mid-point is d/2 = 2.5 m.
Using the formula B = µ0I/2πr, the magnetic field at the mid-point due to each wire is:
B1 = µ0I1/2π(2.5) = µ0/π
B2 = µ0I2/2π(2.5) = 2µ0/π
The magnetic field at the mid-point due to the two wires is the vector sum of the magnetic fields due to each wire. Since the wires are carrying current in the same direction, the magnetic fields add up.
B = B1 + B2 = µ0/π + 2µ0/π = 3µ0/π
Therefore, the magnetic field at a point half-way between the wires is B = 3µ0/2π.
Hence, the correct answer is option C.