Two points, point A and point B, are situated above a current-carrying wire. Point B is located at a distance R from the wire, which is twice as far from the wire as point A. By what factor is the magnetic field at point A larger or smaller than the magnetic field at point B?

Respuesta :

Answer:

By a factor of 2

Explanation:

The strength of the magnetic field produced by a current-carrying wire is given by

[tex]B=\frac{\mu_0 I}{2\pi r}[/tex]

where

[tex]\mu_0[/tex] is the vacuum permeability

I is the current

r is the distance  from the wire

At point A, which is located at a distance [tex]r_A[/tex] from the wire, the magnetic field strength is

[tex]B_A = \frac{\mu_0 I}{2 \pi r_A}[/tex]

Point B is located at a distance of

[tex]r_B = 2 r_A[/tex]

from the wire, so the strength of the field at point B is

[tex]B_B = \frac{\mu_0 I}{2 \pi r_B} = \frac{\mu_0 I}{2 \pi (2 r_A)} = \frac{B_A}{2}[/tex]

Or equivalently,

[tex]B_A =2B_B[/tex]

So, the field at A is twice as strong as the field at B.