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Homework Statement
a straight conductor carrying 5A is separated by 10cm from a second parallel conductor carrying 10A in the same direction. at what distance from the first conductor (along the line connecting the two conductors) is the magnetic field zero?
Homework Equations
F_2 = I_2 L X B_1 = [mu_0(I_1)(I_2)L] / 2(pi)d
where F_2 is force on conductor 2, mu_0 is 4(pi)*10^-7 constant, d is distance between conductors, I is current, L is length of conductor
The Attempt at a Solution
since i need to find the distance when B_1 is zero, i set B_1 = zero and attempted to solve for d, the thing is since when B_1 is zero it makes the left hand side equal to zero thus it is impossible to solve for d
F_2 = I_2 L X B_1 = [mu_0(I_1)(I_2)L]/2(pi)d
I_2 L X B_1 = [mu_0(I_1)(I_2)L]/2(pi)d
I_2 L X 0 = [mu_0(I_1)(I_2)L]/2(pi)d
0 = [mu_0(I_1)(I_2)L]/2(pi)d
0 = mu_0(I_1)(I_2)L where mu_0 = 4pi*10^-7, I_1 = 5A, I_2 = 10A, L is constant
i think my approach is wrong because i did not use the 10cm specified in the problem, am i supposed to use I_1, I_2 and d = 10cm =0.1 m to solve for F_2 first?
then do i compare that to something? substitute?