1 A stiff straight wire has a mass per unit length of \( 55 \mathrm{~g} \mathrm{~m}^{-1} \). The wire is laid on a horizontal bench and a student passes a current through it to try to make it lift off the bench. The horizontal component of the Earth's magnetic field is \( 18 \mu \mathrm{~T} \) in a direction from south to north and the acceleration of free fall is \( 10 \mathrm{~m} \mathrm{~s}^{-2} \).
a i State the direction in which the wire should be laid on the bench.
ii Calculate the minimum current required.
b Suggest whether the student is likely to be successful with this experiment.
2 The magnetic flux density \( B \) at a distance \( r \) from a long straight wire carrying a current \( I \) is given by the expression \( B=\left(2.0 \times 10^{-7}\right) \times I / r \), where \( r \) is in metres and \( I \) is in amperes.
a Calculate:
i the magnetic flux density at a point distance 4.0 cm from a wire carrying a current of 16 A ,
ii the force per unit length on a second wire, also carrying a current of 16 A , which is parallel to, and 4.0 cm from, the first wire.
b Suggest why the force between two wires is demonstrated in the laboratory using aluminium foil rather than copper wires.