Why do two opposing currents cancel each other out perfectly in Ampere's Law?

In summary, the conversation discusses the confusion over the cancellation of two currents at a certain distance, with one person questioning the potential difference in the magnetic field due to the difference in distance from the outside and inside currents. Another person points out a potential flaw in the logic and suggests using Ampere's law and the symmetry of the currents to understand the cancellation.
  • #1
PsychonautQQ
784
10

Homework Statement


http://grephysics.net/ans/9277/9

I'm confused why these two currents cancel each other out perfectly when the distance they are being measured from is closer to the outside current than the inside current...

Like if the magnetic induction is proportional to the distance from the current,, then wouldn't the outside currents induced magnetic field be a little bit bigger than the inner currents?

edit: I just realized a potential flaw in my logic... since the outer part goes completely around the inner part,, on average both of the currents are the same distance away from the point P?
 
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  • #2
PsychonautQQ said:

Homework Statement


http://grephysics.net/ans/9277/9

I'm confused why these two currents cancel each other out perfectly when the distance they are being measured from is closer to the outside current than the inside current...

Like if the magnetic induction is proportional to the distance from the current,, then wouldn't the outside currents induced magnetic field be a little bit bigger than the inner currents?

edit: I just realized a potential flaw in my logic... since the outer part goes completely around the inner part,, on average both of the currents are the same distance away from the point P?

Sort of. Just use Ampere's law and the symmetry of the currents.
 

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