A long straight wire carries a current in the direction...

A long straight wire carries a current in the direction shown in the following figure. At the point labeled $A$, is the direction of the magnetic field left, right, up, down, into the page, or out of the page? What is the direction of the magnetic field at the point labeled B? Explain. (FIGURE CANNOT COPY)

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Key Concepts

Right-Hand Rule

The right-hand rule is a simple method used to determine the direction of the magnetic field produced by a current-carrying wire. To apply it, point the thumb of your right hand in the direction of the current, and your fingers will naturally curl in the direction of the magnetic field lines. This technique is fundamental for visualizing how the magnetic field wraps around the wire and for determining its direction at specific points.

Magnetic Field Around a Current-Carrying Wire

A current-carrying wire produces a magnetic field that forms concentric circles around the wire. The strength and direction of this magnetic field at any point in space are determined by the magnitude of the current and the distance from the wire. The field always lies tangential to these circular lines, meaning that its direction at any given point depends on the relative position of that point to the wire.

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