The magnetic field produced by a current-carrying straight wire decreases as the distance from the wire increases, as illustrated by the concentric circles becoming larger in the figure.
What can be observed regarding the magnetic field produced by a current-carrying straight wire as the distance from the wire increases?
Share
As the distance from a current-carrying straight wire increases, certain observations can be made regarding the magnetic field produced:
1. Field Strength Decreases: The strength of the magnetic field diminishes with an increase in distance from the wire. This is in accordance with the inverse square law, meaning that the magnetic field strength is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the current-carrying wire.
2. Field Lines Expand: The magnetic field lines around the wire take on a concentric circular pattern. As the distance increases, these circles become larger, indicating a weakening magnetic influence with greater spatial separation from the wire.
3. Reduced Effect on Nearby Objects: Objects, such as compass needles, placed at increasing distances from the wire experience reduced deflection. This decrease in deflection correlates with the weakening magnetic field as the distance from the wire grows.
In summary, the magnetic field produced by a current-carrying straight wire weakens as one moves farther away from the wire, and this behavior is consistent with the principles of electromagnetic field propagation.