Question

horatio drew a diagram to illustrate how magnetism is produced by electric currents. which best explains horatios error? magnetism is not produced by electric currents unless the wire is coiled. the magnetic field does not continually spread outward from the wire. the magnetic field is produced inside the wire, not outside of it. magnetism is only produced when a metal bar is placed near the wire.

Explanation:

• Option 1: Magnetic fields are produced by straight - current - carrying wires (not just coiled ones). So this option is incorrect.
• Option 2: The magnetic field around a current - carrying wire forms concentric circles (using the right - hand rule). It does not spread outward in the radial direction as shown in the diagram. This is a correct analysis of the error.
• Option 3: The magnetic field is produced outside the wire (for a long straight current - carrying wire, the magnetic field inside the wire (for a solid cylindrical wire) is different from the outside, but the main error in the diagram is the direction of the field lines, not the location). So this option is incorrect.
• Option 4: Magnetism is produced by the current in the wire itself, not by a metal bar near the wire. So this option is incorrect.

Answer:

The magnetic field does not continually spread outward from the wire.