Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-optics-and-electrodynamics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2022/section-b/6/c/solution
Past exam of the optics and electrodynamics course of the University of Cambridge 2022 Section B 6 c Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-18
The infinitely long filaments have no finite total force; the meaningful result is force per unit length in the laboratory. Evaluate only A's field at B, excluding B's singular self-field. B is at , so defineIn both cases A moves at , hence at BFor a filament with linear charge density and convective electric current , the Lorentz force per laboratory length isIn Case 1, and . Electric repulsion and magnetic attraction givesoThe cancellation uses . In Case 2, B is stationary, and , givingBoth results have units and are repulsive, away from A, irrespective of the common sign of . In Case 1 the velocity independence of force per laboratory length does not violate the transverse force transformation: a material segment of proper length occupies laboratory length , so its force is the rest-frame force divided by . The calculation interprets the stated as each filament's final proper density; holding a laboratory density fixed during acceleration would be a different preparation.
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