When two conductors with current flow in opposite directions are placed side by side, what happens to their magnetic fields?

When two conductors have current flowing in opposite directions, the magnetic fields generated around each conductor interact in a specific way. According to the right-hand rule, the direction of the magnetic field produced by a current-carrying conductor is perpendicular to the direction of the current. When the currents are flowing in opposite directions, the magnetic fields created will also point in opposite directions.

Because of this opposition, the magnetic fields will exert forces on each other that lead to repulsion. This phenomenon can be understood through the principles of electromagnetism, which dictate that magnetic fields generated by currents can either reinforce or counteract each other depending on the relative directions of those currents. In this case, since the currents are in opposite directions, the magnetic forces are opposing, leading to a net effect where the conductors repel each other.

This understanding is foundational in the study of electromagnetism and is essential for grasping the behavior of circuits and electromagnetic devices.