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Magnetic Sources

Forces Between Conductors

Don't forget Newton's Third Law. We will only look at the force on one of the current-carrying conductors. But that will tell us all we need to know about both of the current-carrying conductors! 

Look at the magnetic field B₂ generated by current I₂. Now that field affects current I₁. What is the force F₁ felt by current I₁ because there is a magnetic field there?

That is, two current-carrying conductors with currents flowing in the same direction are attracted to each other. Two current-carrying conductors with currents flowing in opposite directions are repelled from each other.

Particular Geometries			Ampere's Law
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(c) Doug Davis, 2002; all rights reserved