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.

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

A 10m long uniform beam is pivoted in its centre. A 30kg point mass is placed on one end of the beam. Where must a 50kg mass be placed in order to balance the beam?


In still air an aircraft flies at 200 m/s . The aircraft is heading due north in still air when it flies into a steady wind of 50 m/s blowing from the west. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the resultant velocity?


An object is let in free fall from a platform 20m high above Earth's surface. Describe the event in terms of energy and thus determine the speed of the object when it hits ground. Air resistance is negligible and gravitational acceleration is constant.


What is the gravitational force between two steel spheres of radius 10 meters and density 8000 kilograms per meter cubed