By Newton's third law, the mutual forces between the solenoids must be equal and opposite. However, since the magnetic field inside a solenoid is nearly uniform and the field outside is nearly zero, the inner solenoid experiences a net radial force from the outer one's field gradient, while the outer solenoid (sitting in nearly zero field from the thin inner solenoid) experiences negligible net radial force.
Two coaxial solenoids of different radii carry current in the same direction. Let be the magnetic force on the inner solenoid due to the outer one, and be the magnetic force on the outer solenoid due to the inner one. Which statement correctly describes and ?
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