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Field of a Wire

Part of the Electricity and Magnetism section of Coddy's Physics journey. Lesson 39 of 51.

Around a long straight wire the field lines are circles, and

B=μ0I2πrB = \frac{\mu_0 I}{2\pi r}

μ0=4π×10−7 T⋅m/A\mu_0 = 4\pi\times10^{-7}\ \mathrm{T\cdot m/A}.

The right-hand grip rule: thumb along the current, fingers curl along the field. Current out of the page: counterclockwise.

The field around a wire

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Challenge

A long straight wire carries 10 A10\ \mathrm{A}. How strong is its magnetic field BB at a point 5 cm5\ \mathrm{cm} from it, in microteslas?

Try it yourself

Physics diagram: endwire, ball

Solve for BB

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