Lesson: Electromagnetic Interactions between Straight Conductors Physics

Students will be able to

• use diagrams of the magnetic fields around conducting wires to qualitatively determine the net magnetic field of two parallel conducting wires carrying currents in the same and in opposite directions,
• use the formula to relate the force per unit length between two parallel conducting wires to their perpendicular separation and the currents that they carry,
• for two parallel conducting wires carrying currents in the same and in opposite directions, use the direction of the net magnetic field at a point midway between the wires to determine whether the net force between the wires is attractive or repulsive,
• qualitatively determine the net magnetic field due to arrays of parallel conducting wires.