Two long conductors separated by a distance 'd' carry currents $I_1$ and $I_2$ in the same direction. They…

Two long conductors separated by a distance 'd' carry currents $I_1$ and $I_2$ in the same direction. They exert a force ' $\mathrm{F}$ ' on each other. Now the current in one of them is increased to two times and its direction is reversed. The distance between them is also increased to $3 \mathrm{~d}$. The new value of force between them is
  1. $-2 \mathrm{~F}$
  2. $\frac{\mathrm{F}}{3}$
  3. $\frac{-2 \mathrm{~F}}{3}$
  4. $\frac{-\mathrm{F}}{3}$

Solution

The force per unit length of the conductors is given as: $\mathrm{F}=\frac{\mu_4 \mathrm{I}_1 \mathrm{I}_2}{2 \pi \mathrm{d}}$ When the value and direction of current in the first conductor and the distance between the conductors are changed, $\begin{aligned} \therefore \quad \mathrm{F}_2 & =\frac{-\mu_0 2 \mathrm{I}_1 \mathrm{I}_2}{2 \pi \times 3 \mathrm{~d}} \\ \therefore \quad & \frac{\mathrm{F}_2}{\mathrm{~F}}=\frac{-2}{3} \\ \mathrm{~F}_2 & =-\frac{2 \mathrm{~F}}{3} \end{aligned}$

Asked in: MHT CET 2023 (11 May Shift 2)

Practice more Magnetic Fields due to Electric Current questions on Aicharya