All questions
AP Physics C: E&M
12.3 Magnetic Fields of Current-Carrying Wires and the Biot-Savart Law
AdvancedMCQMathematicalConceptual21.1k
A circle drawn with a thin dashed black line centered at a central point dot. Inscribed inside the circle is a regular hexagon drawn with a solid black line. On the top horizontal segment of the hexagon, an arrow points rightward and is labeled \(I\). From the central dot, a straight dashed radial line extends upward and to the right at an angle of 30 degrees to meet one of the vertices of the hexagon on the dashed circle, labeled \(R\). At the center of the hexagon, the central dot is labeled \(C\). No other labels, lines, text, or axes appear.
A regular polygon with \(n\) sides carrying current \(I\) inscribed in a circle of radius \(R\).
A thin wire carrying a steady current \(I\) is bent into the shape of a regular planar polygon with \(n\) sides inscribed in a circle of radius \(R\). The magnitude of the magnetic field at the center of the polygon is given by the expression

\[ B(n) = \dfrac{\mu_0 n I}{2\pi R} \tan\left(\dfrac{\pi}{n}\right) \]

Which of the following statements correctly describes the behavior of \(B(n)\) in the limit as \(n \to \infty\), and provides the correct physical justification?

Log In to Continue

Accounts are free! Log in to try this question, see explanations, save progress, and more!

Tools for a 5