Two long parallel wires are separated by a distance of 240 c

Two long, parallel wires are separated by a distance of 2.40 cm. The forceper unit length that each wire exerts on the other is 3.70 x 10\"5 N/m, and the wires repel each other. The current in one wire is 0.600 A. What is the current in the second wire? Are the two currents in the same or in opposite directions? Same opposite

Solution

Current passing through one wire is I₁

Force between two parallel wires

                  F = ( _o I₁ I ₂ / 2 d ) l

              F / l = _o I₁ I ₂ / 2 d

3.7*10^-5 N /m = ( 4*10^-7 TA /m ) ( 0.6A ) I ₂ / 2 ( 0.024 m )

                 I ₂ = 7.4 A

since both are repel each other, so the current must be in oppposite direction.