A wire carrying current has the shape as shown in the adjoining figure. Linear parts of the wire are very long and parallel to the X-axis while the semicircular portion of radius is lying in the Y-Z plane. The magnetic field at point is:
To find the total magnetic field at point , we consider the three segments of the wire independently and use the principle of superposition:
Semi-infinite straight wires: There are two very long (semi-infinite) linear segments parallel to the X-axis. According to the sources, the magnetic field due to a semi-infinite wire at a distance from its end is . Applying the right-hand thumb rule for the given geometry, both segments produce a field at in the negative Z-direction (). Total field from linear parts = .
Semicircular arc: For a circular arc of radius subtending an angle at the center, the field is . For a semicircle, , so . Since the arc lies in the Y-Z plane, its axial field at the center will be along the X-axis. Given the current direction, the field points in the negative X-direction (). Field from arc = .
Total Field: Summing the vectors: . This matches Option 3.
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