To find the magnitude of the magnetic field at point P due to the triangular wire loop PQR, we consider the contribution from each of the three straight segments: PQ, PR, and QR.
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Contribution from segments PQ and PR:
According to the Biot-Savart Law, the magnetic field produced by a straight current-carrying wire at any point lying along the line of the wire is zero. Since point P lies on the line passing through segment PQ and also on the line passing through segment PR, the magnetic fields at P due to these segments are:
BPQ=0
BPR=0
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Contribution from segment QR:
The triangle PQR is a right-angled triangle at P because:
PQ2+PR2=(3x)2+(4x)2=25x2=(5x)2=QR2
Let d be the perpendicular distance from vertex P to the hypotenuse QR.
The area of △PQR can be written in two ways:
Area=21×PQ×PR=21×(3x)×(4x)=6x2
Area=21×QR×d=21×(5x)×d
Equating the two expressions for area:
25xd=6x2⟹d=512x
Let H be the foot of the perpendicular from P onto QR. Let θ1 and θ2 be the angles subtended by the segments HQ and HR at P, respectively:
θ1=∠HPQandθ2=∠HPR
In the right-angled triangle PHQ:
sinθ1=cos(∠PQH)=QRPQ=5x3x=53
In the right-angled triangle PHR:
sinθ2=cos(∠PRH)=QRPR=5x4x=54
The magnetic field at P due to the segment QR is given by:
B=4πdμ0I(sinθ1+sinθ2)
Substituting the values of d, sinθ1, and sinθ2:
B=4π(512x)μ0I(53+54)
B=48πx5μ0I(57)=7(48πxμ0I)
Comparing this result with the given expression B=k(48πxμ0I), we find:
k=7