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A long wire carries a steady current. When it is bent in a circular form, the magnetic field at its centre is B. Now if this wire is bent in a circular loop of n turns, what is the magnetic field at its centre ?

Asked in GSEB Board July 2016 · Rotating charges and multiple loops

Answer: (1) n²B

Step-by-step solution

Given: one wire of fixed length L, first bent into a single turn of radius R, then into n turns of radius R'.

Idea: the wire is the same piece both times, so winding it n times must shrink the radius.

One turn: L=2π R and B=(μ₀ I)/(2R).

n turns: L=n(2π R'), so R'=R/n.

Field of the n-turn coil: B'=(μ₀ nI)/(2R')=(μ₀ nI)/(2R/n)=n²·(μ₀ I)/(2R).

So B'=n²B.

Why the other options are wrong

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