Two current carrying wires are placed next to each other and anti-parallel currents are allowed to flow. Is the magnetic force between the wires attractive or repulsive?

Consider the first wire on the left with current running up (arbitrary choice). By the 1st right hand rule, the magnetic field anywhere on the right will be into the page. By the 2nd right hand rule, the force is to the left, so repulsive.

Answered by Physics tutor

1896 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

A gun of mass 10kg fires a bullet of mass 240g at a speed of 300ms-1. What is the speed of the gun's recoil?


If an alpha particle (Z = 2) of kinetic energy 7 MeV is incident on a gold nucleus (Z = 79), what is its closest distance of approach?


Asteroid of mass 10^16 kg is travelling in the equatorial plane of Earth. It hits the surface at 45°. After the impact the day shortens by 1% (15 mins). How fast was the asteroid - comment? Neglect effects of atmosphere. Consider only inelastic collision.


A student studied how a few parameters of the electromagnetic radiation affects the I-V(current-voltage) curve of photoelectricity. By increasing one parameter he saw that the saturation current has risen. Which parameter it was?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning