Fields: Long Current-Carrying Wires

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Video Clips

Video RealVideo®
4:42 minutes (4:44 - 9:26)

Finding the direction of the magnetic field created by a current-carrying wire, with introduction to the right hand rule and a demo of a compass needle responding to the current through a wire.

Prior Knowledge: None
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Video RealVideo®
4:27 minutes (12:53 - 17:20)

Forces felt by two parallel current carrying wires, when the currents are in the same or in opposite directions. Includes a demonstration of these forces.

Prior Knowledge: Field of Current-Carrying Wire (4:44 of video lecture 11)
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Magnetic Field of a Current Loop (8.02, Spring 2002)

Video RealVideo®
6:25 minutes (8:52 - 15:17)

Finding the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field at the center of a loop of current, with comparison to a dipole field.

Prior Knowledge: Magnetic Field of Current-Carrying Wire (4:44 of video lecture 11)
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Video RealVideo®
3:45 minutes (16:54 - 20:39)

Using iron filings to view the magnetic field lines near a current-carrying wire and a loop of current.

Prior Knowledge: Magnetic Field of Current-Carrying Wire (4:44 of video lecture 11) and Magnetic Field of a Current Loop (8:52 of video lecture 14)
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Lecture Notes

Current-Carrying Wires (8.02T, Spring 2005)

Document PDF - 1.1 MB
Page 6 to page 15

Magnetic force on a current-carrying wire, with diagrams. Forces felt by wires with parallel and anti-parallel currents, with links to visualizations.

Prior Knowledge: Magnetic Fields and Forces (pages 1-31 of presentation 14)
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Review: Circuits (8.02T, Spring 2005)

Document PDF#
Page 24 to page 26

Table of important values and equations for resistors, capacitors, and inductors. Brief review of what happens in RC, RL, LC, and RLC circuits.

Prior Knowledge: Material is from Presentations 10, 12, 24, and 25.
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Ampere's Law (8.022, Fall 2004)

Document PDF
Page 7 to page 11

Statement; field of current-carrying wire and sheet; units; divergence of B and interpretation.

Prior Knowledge: Magnetic forces
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Online Textbook Chapter

Ampere's Law (8.02T, Spring 2005)

Document PDF - 1.9 MB
Page 14 to page 24

Derivation and statement; field of current-carrying cable, current sheet, solenoid, and toroid.

Prior Knowledge: Biot-Savart
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Practice Problems

Document PDF
Page 1 to page 4

Two questions with answers and explanations.

Prior Knowledge: None
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Current Carrying Ribbon (8.02, Spring 2002)

Document PDF
Problem 3

Finding the magnetic field at points outside and in the plane of the ribbon.

Prior Knowledge: None
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Document PDF
Problem 1

Explaining in words why parallel currents attract and antiparallel currents repel.

Prior Knowledge: None
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Exam Questions

Document PDF
Problem 5

Finding magnetic field using geometry from an arrangement of current-carrying wires.

Prior Knowledge: None
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Stacked Current-Carrying Loops (8.02X, Spring 2005)

Document PDF
Problem 4

Finding field of one loop and force exerted on the other.

Prior Knowledge: None
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Stacked Current-Carrying Loops (8.02X, Spring 2005)

Document PDF
Problem 5

Finding field of one loop and force exerted on the other.

Prior Knowledge: None
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Java Applets

Java Applet Java Applet
Requires Java Virtual Machine and Shockwave® Player

Applet showing the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field created by a small segment of current.

Prior Knowledge: Magnetic Field of a Current-Carrying Wire (pages 6-15 of LS15)
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Java Applet Java Applet
Requires Java Virtual Machine and Shockwave® Player

Applet demonstrating the method if integrating around a ring of current to find the magnetic field at a point above the ring.

Prior Knowledge: Magnetic Field of a Ring of Current
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The Ring of Current (8.02T, Spring 2005)

Java Applet Java Applet
Requires Java Virtual Machine and Shockwave® Player

Applet showing the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field at any point in or around a ring of current.

Prior Knowledge: Magnetic Field of a Ring of Current
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Two Wires in Parallel (8.02T, Spring 2005)

Java Applet Java Applet
Requires Java Virtual Machine

Video animation showing the magnetic field and behavior of two wires with current flowing in the same direction.

Prior Knowledge: None
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Two Wires in Series (8.02T, Spring 2005)

Java Applet Java Applet
Requires Java Virtual Machine

Video animation showing the magnetic field and behavior of two wires with current flowing in different directions.

Prior Knowledge: None
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Two Rings of Current Attracting (8.02T, Spring 2005)

Java Applet Java Applet
Requires Java Virtual Machine

Video animation showing the magnetic field and attraction of two coaxial wire loops with current flowing in the same direction.

Prior Knowledge: None
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Two Rings of Current Repelling (8.02T, Spring 2005)

Java Applet Java Applet
Requires Java Virtual Machine

Video animation showing the magnetic field and behavior of two coaxial wire loops with current flowing in different directions.

Prior Knowledge: None
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Java Applet Java Applet
Requires Java Virtual Machine

Video animation showing the magnetic field generated by a Helmholtz Coil when the two coils have current flowing in the same direction (magnetic dipole moments aligned).

Prior Knowledge: None
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Java Applet Java Applet
Requires Java Virtual Machine

Video animation showing the magnetic field generated by a Helmholtz Coil when the two coils have current flowing in different directions (magnetic dipole moments anti-aligned).

Prior Knowledge: None
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Two Current-Carrying Rings (8.02T, Spring 2005)

Java Applet Java Applet
Requires Java Virtual Machine

Interactive applet showing the magnetic field created by two rings with variable position, orientation, size, and current.

Prior Knowledge: None
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Java Applet Java Applet
Requires Java Virtual Machine

Interactive applet simulating the magnetic field and interactions of a current-carrying wire and a compass needle.

Prior Knowledge: None
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MIT courses referenced in this section: