16.

1
1. A magnetic field is a region in space in which a magnetic force can act on a
moving charged particle.
2. A magnetic field can be produced by a permanent magnet, by a current-carrying
conductor, or by a moving charge.
3. Magnetic field is represented by magnetic field lines. A magnetic field line has
direction.The strength of a magnetic field is indicated by the concentration of
field lines.The higher the concentration of field lines, the stronger is the magnetic
field.
4. Figure 16.1 shows the magnetic field produced by a bar magnet.The direction of
the magnetic field is from the north pole to the south pole. Like poles repel, unlike
notes attract.








5. Figure 16.2 shows the magnetic field produced by magnadur
magnets.Magnadur magnets are ceramic magnets with their
poles on their flat faces.The magnetic field between two
magnadur magnets is an example of a uniform magnetic field.


6. Figure 16.3 shows the magnetic field produced by a straight current-carrying
conductor. The magnetic field lines are concentric circular rings around the
conductor. The direction of the field lines can be found by using the right-hand-
grip rule. By pointing one's right thumb along the direction of the current, the
direction of the magnetic field can be found by curving one's fingers around the
wire.

7. Figure 16.4 shows the magnetic field produced by a flat current-carrying coil.The
direction of the field lines inside the coil can be found using the right-hand-grip
rule.

8. Figure 16.5 shows the magnetic field produced by a current-carrying solenoid.
The direction of the field lines can be found using the right-hand-grip rule.

9. Figure 16.6 shows the magnetic field of the Earth.The pattern of the field is
similar to a bar magnet placed inside the Earth. At the geographic north pole, lies
the magnetic south pole while the geographic south pole lies the magnetic north
pole. Field lines are from the magnetic north to magnetic south(From geographic
south to geographic north).

10. The magnetic flux density is a measure of the strength of magnetic filed at a point.
Magnetic flux density is also known as magnetic field strength. The symbol for
magnetic flux density is B. The unit for magnetic flux density is weber per square
metre (Wb m
-2
). 1 Wb m
-2
= 1 tesla (T). Magnetic flux density, B, is a vector
quantity.
11. Magnetic field strength of the Earth is about 0.00005 T and magnetic field
strength of a small bar magnet is about 0.01 T. The direction of the vector B at a
point follows the direction of the magnetic field line at that point.

EXERSICE 16.1
1. What is meant by a magnetic field?
2. State the unit for magnetic flux density.
3. Draw a straight current-carrying wire and the magnetic field produced by the
current. In your diagram, indicate the direction of the magnetic field produced by
the current.




16.2
1. A magnetic field is a region in space where a magnetic force can act on:
(a) a moving charged particle,
(b) a conductor carrying a current,
(c) a magnet.
2. The specific charge of a charged particle is defined as the charge per unit mass,
that is specific charge =

The table below shows the specific charge of three common charged particles.

3. When a charged particle with a charge q is moving with a velocity v in a magnetic
field B, the particle will experience a magnetic force, ( ). F q v B = v B is a
cross product of velocity and magnetic flux density.
4. The magnitude of the magnetic force on a charged particle is given by
sin F Bqv u = ,
where u is the angle between the velocity vector and the magnetic field vector.


If the magnetic field vector B is perpendicular to the velocity vector v, then the
magnitude of the magnetic force on the particle is F = Bqv. The direction of the
force can be found using Fleming's left-hand rule.
5. Magnetic flux density
Magnetic flux density, B, is the force per unit charge acting on a charged particle
moving at 1 ms
-1
, at right angle to the magnetic field.
Therefore,
1 1 1 1 1 1
1 1 1 ( ) 1 T NC m s N As m s NA m

= = =
6. Direction of magnetic force on a charged particle
The direction of the magnetic force acting on a changed particle moving in a
magnetic field can be found by using Fleming's left-hand rule.


When using the Fleming left hand rule:
Forefinger points in the direction of magnetic field. Middle finger points in the
direction of current.
For a positively charged particle:
The current direction follows the direction of velocity.
For a negatively charged particle:
The current direction is opposite to the direction of velocity.
Finally, the thumb indicates the direction of the force.
7. When the motion of a charged particle is parallel to a magnetic field, there is no
magnetic force acting on the particle, thus there is no acceleration. The particle
continues to travel with constant velocity.

Note that ( ) F q v B = where v B is a cross product. Therefore, vector B and
vector v must be perpendicular
8. When a charged particle enters a uniform magnetic field perpendicularly, the
magnetic force is given by F = Bqv, and the direction (found by using Fleming's
left hand rule) will be always perpendicular to the velocity vector.
(a) Since the force is always perpendicular to displacement, therefore, no work
is done by the magnetic force. Hence, no change in kinetic energy and no
change in speed.
(b) The magnetic force will only change the direction of motion, and therefore
the magnetic force will cause the particle to travel in a circle.
(c) When a charged particle enters a uniform magnetic field perpendicularly, the
magnetic force causes the charged particle to travel in a circle.
(d) The magnetic force provides the centripetal force required for the circular
motion.










Figure 16.11(a) shows an electron moving in a circle in a magnetic field.
Use Fleming's left-hand rule to check the direction of motion of the particle in circular
motion.

Figure 16.11(b) shows an proton moving in a circle in a magnetic field.
Use Fleming's left-hand rule to check the direction of motion of the particle in circular
motion.

9. Radius of the circular motion of a charged particle in a magnetic field
When a particle of charge q and mass m is moving in a circle with a speed v and a
radius r:
(a) the particle has an acceleration of
2
v
r
or
2
re
(b) from F = ma, there is a resultant force acting on the particle which is Bqv or

2
mv
r

(c) therefore,
2
mv
Bqv
r
= or
2
Bqv mre =
(d) from
2
;
mv mv
Bqv r
r Bq
= =
(e) radius of the circular motion,
mv
r
Bq
=







10. Period of the circular motion of a charged particle in a magnetic field
When a charged particle moves in a circle in a magnetic field.

2
mv Bqr
Bqv v
r m
= = but
2 r
v
T
t
=
Therefore,
2 r Bqr
T m
t
=

2 m
T
Bq
t
=
Period, T =
2
;
m
T
Bq
t
= and frequency, f =
2
Bq
m t

A proton moving with a speed of 2.0 X 106 ms
-1
enters perpendicularly into a
uniform magnetic field of 0.014 T. Calculate the radius of the path of the proton
in the magnetic field.
(Mass of proton = 1.66 X 10
-27
kg; charge of proton = 1.6 X 10
-19
C)

27 6
19
1.66 10 2 10
0.014 1.6 10
mv
r
Bq

= =


= 1.48m

An electron with a speed of 6.0 X 10
6
ms
-1
enters a uniform a magnetic field of
strength 0.82 T perpendicularly.
(a) What is the force acting on the electron?
(b) What is the acceleration of the electron?
(c) What is the radius of the circular path travelled by the electron in the magnetic
field?
(a)
19 6
0.82 1.6 10 6 10 F Bqv

= =
=
13
7.87 10 N

(b)
13
31
7.87 10
9.1 10
F N
a
m

= =

=
17 2
8.65 10 ms

(c)
2
v
a
r
=

6 2
17
(6 10 )
8.65 10
r

=

5
4.16 10 r m

=
The charge-to-mass ratio (specific charge) of an alpha particle is 4.82 X 107 C
kg
-1
. An alpha particle with a velocity of 2.0 x 107 ms
-1
moves in a circle with
radius of 10.0 cm in a uniform magnetic field. Calculate the magnetic flux
density of the field.

2
mv q v
Bqv
r m Br
= =

7
7
2 10
4.82 10
0.1 B

4.15 B T =
Electrons with speed of 4.910
6
ms
-1
pass through a region of uniform magnetic
field of flux density 0.75 mT. The path of the electrons in the field is a circle with
radius 3.7 cm. Calculate
(a) the specific charge of the electron,
(b) the mass of the electron, assuming that the charge of electron is1.6 X 10-19C.
(a) Specific charge of eletron,
q v
m Br
=

6
3 2
4.9 10
0.75 10 3.7 10

=


An electron and a proton moving with the same velocity enter perpendicularly
into a uniform magnetic field. If the radius of the circular path of electron is 2.0
cm, find the radius of the circular path of the proton.
2 2
1 1
27
2
31
1.67 10
0.02 9.1 10
mv
r r m
Bq
r m
r m
r

=
=

2
36.7 r m =
The radius of the circular path of the proton is 36.7 m.
An electron and a proton having the same kinetic energy enter perpendicularly
into a uniform magnetic field. If the radius of the circular path of the electron is
1.0 cm, find the radius of the circular path of the proton.
mv
r
Bq
= and
2
1
2
K mv = therefore,
2mK
r
Bq
=
r m
1
2
2 2
1 1
r m
r m
| |
=
|
\ .


1
27
2
2
31
1.67 10
0.01 9.1 10
r

| |
=
|

\ .

2
0.428 r m =










A narrow beam of positive ions travelling through a vacuum enters a region of
uniform magnetic field of flux density 0.454 T and is deflected into a semi-
circular path as shown in Figure 16.12.

The beam of ions is travelling with a speed of 1.40 x 105 ms
-1
.
(a) With reference to the figure, state the direction of the magnetic field.
(b) The beam of ions has a mass of 20u and a charge of 1.6 x 10
-19
C. Find the
diameter of the circular path travelled by the ions in the magnetic field. ( l u =
1.66 X 10
-27
kg)
(a) Using Fleming's left-hand rule, the direction of the magnetic field is out of the
page.
(b)
27 5
19
20 1.66 10 1.40 10
0.454 1.6 10
mv
r
Bq

= =


0.064m =
Therefore, the diameter is 0.128 m.
10. Comparison of electric force and magnetic force on a charged particle
(a) Electric force acts along the line of the electric field direction whereas the
magnetic force acts at right angle to the field direction.
(b) Magnetic force is directly proportional to the velocity of charged particle whereas
electric force is independent of the velocity.
(c) When a charged particle enters an electric field perpendicularly, it travels along a
parabolic path but when a charged particle enters a magnetic field
perpendicularly, it travels along a circular path.


EXERSICE 16.2
1. A stream of nuclei, each carrying a charge of 3.2 X 10
-19
C, is travelling with a
speed of 1.5 X 10
7
ms
-1
at right angle to a magnetic field of 2.0 T.
(a) What is the magnetic force on each particle?
(b) What effect does this force has on the path followed by the nuclei?
(c) If the mass of each nucleus is 6.6 X 10
-27
kg, calculate the acceleration of each
nucleus.
2. An electron travels through a cathode ray tube with a velocity of 3.7 X 10
7
ms
-1
. It
enters a magnetic field of flux density 0.47 mT at right angle. What is the radius
of curvature of the path in the magnetic field?




3. In a particle physics experiment, a detector is placed in a magnetic field of 0.92 T.
A particle is found to produce a circular track of radius 0.5 m. Other experiments
have shown that the particle carries a charge of +1.6 X 10
-19
C and that its speed
was 3.0 X 10
7
ms
-1
. What is the mass of the particle? How does it compare to the
mass of an electron (9.11 X 10
-31
kg)?
4. An electron accelerated to 6.0 X 10
6
ms
-1
is deflected by a magnetic field of
strength 0.82 T. The magnetic field causes the electron to move in a circle of
radius r.
(a) What is the force acting on the electron?
(b) What is the radius r of the circular path of the electron?
5. What is the radius of the circular path described by a proton moving at 1.5 X 10
4

ms
-1
in a plane perpendicular to a 4.0 X 10
-2
T magnetic field? (Mass of a proton =
1.67 X 10
-27
kg)
6. The charge-to-mass ratio (specific charge) of an electron is 1.76 X 10
11
C kg
-1
. An
electron with a velocity of 1.28 X 10
7
ms
-1
is moving in a circle with a radius of
5.42 cm in a uniform magnetic field. Calculate the magnetic flux density of the
field.
7. Electrons and protons with the same kinetic energy are moving at right angle to a
uniform magnetic field. Find the ratio of the orbital radius of proton to the orbital
radius of electron.
8. An electron is fired perpendicularly into a 3.5 mT uniform magnetic field with a
speed of 2 X 10
7
ms
-1
. The magnetic field is directed into the plane of the page.

(a) Make a copy of the diagram and mark the direction of the magnetic force on
the electron.
(b) Calculate the magnetic force acting on the electron.
(c) Explain why the electron will move in a circle with constant speed.
(d) Calculate the radius of the electron's circular path.
(e) How long will it take for the electron to complete one circular orbit?
9. An electron and an a-particle travelling with the same speed both enter the same
region of uniform magnetic flux which is at right angle to their direction of motion.
State and explain any differences between the motion of the electron and the a-
particle in the magnetic field.
10. An electron moving at right angle to a 0.10 T magnetic field experiences an
acceleration of 6.0 X 10
15
ms
-2
. What is the electron's speed?








16.3
1. Figure 16.13 shows a conductor of length, l, carrying a current, I, in a magnetic
field, B. The magnetic field is perpendicular to the current. The magnetic force
acting on the conductor is F = BIl.

If the magnetic field makes an angle u with the current, then, F = (B sin u )Il =
BIlsinu
where u is the angle between the current and the magnetic field as shown in
Figure 16.14.

2. Derivation of the equation F = Bll sin 0
The force acting on a conductor is the sum of all the forces on the free electrons in
the conductor. The magnetic force on a free electron is Bqv sin 0 where v is the
drift velocity of the conducting electron. The total number of free electrons inside
the conductor is n X 1 x A.
Therefore, F= n x l x A x Bqv sin u
= B1 sin u x nqvA
= Bl sin u x (nevA)
= BI sin u X (l)
= BIl sin u
where n = free electron density, l= length, A = cross-sectional area

3. The direction of the magnetic force on a straight conductor can be found by using
Fleming's left-hand rule.

When using Fleming's left hand rule: The first finger points in the direction of the
magnetic field, the second finger points in the direction of the current and the
thumb indicates the direction of the force as shown in Figure 16.16.

4. Each of the following figures shows a conductor carrying a current in a magnetic
field. For each figure, the Direction of the magnetic force, on the wire is found by
using Fleming's left-hand rule.



Figure 16.18 shows a wire of length 0.62 m carrying a current of 2.0 A placed at
right angle to a magnet field of 0.30 T. Calculate the force acting on the wire.

Magnitude of force: F = B1l = 0.30 X 2.0 x 0.62
= 0.372 N
Direction of force: The force is acting upward on the wire. (Found by using
Fleming's left-hand rule)
A straight length of copper wire, 1.2 m long, with a mass of 48.0 g, has a current
of 28 A flowing through it. Find the magnitude and direction of the minimum
magnetic field, B, that is needed to suspend the wire (that is, to balance the
gravitational force acting on it).

To balance the weight, the magnetic force must act upwards.
Using Fleming's left-hand rule, the direction of the magnetic field is into the page.
When the wire is in equilibrium: Bil mg =
28 1.2 0.048 9.81 B =
0.014 B T =
=14mT
A wire carrying a current of 10.0 A in a direction that makes an angle of 30 with
the direction of a magnetic field of strength 0.300 T. Find the magnetic force on a
2.0 m length of the wire.
F = BIl sin u
= 0.3 X 10 X 2 X sin 30 = 3.0 N
















A wire with a length of 4.0 cm and a weight of 5.0 g is hanged on two thin
conductors. If the wire carries a current of 8.0 A and it is deflected from the
vertical through an angle of 14 in a uniform magnetic field as shown in Figure
16.20. Determine the magnetic flux density of the magnetic field.

Vertically: T cos u = mg where T is the tension in the wires. Horizontally: T sin
u = BIl
Therefore, tan
BIl
mg
u =

tan mg
B
Il
u
=

0.005 9.81 tan14
8 0.04

=

2
3.82 10 T

=
1. A wire of length 1.2 m carrying a current of 6.0 A when placed at right angle to a
magnetic field experiences a force of 0.01 N. Calculate the magnetic flux density
of the magnetic field.
2. A magnetic field exerts a force of 0.25 N on an 8.0 cm length of wire carrying a
current of 3.0 A at right angle to the field.
(a) Calculate the force that the same field would exert on a wire 20 cm long
carrying the same current.
(b) Calculate the force that the same field would exert on three insulated wires,
each 20 cm long and carrying a current of 3.0 A, held together and parallel to each
other, in the same direction.
3. A wire 1.8 m long carries a current of 13.0 A and makes an angle of 35 with a
uniform magnetic field of magnitude 1.50 T. Calculate the magnetic force on the
wire.
4. A conductor, PR, of length 1 m is suspended by two flexible wires and has a mass
of 0.040 kg. It is connected to a cell and placed in a uniform magnetic field as
shown in the figure below.

(a) Find the current that must flow in the conductor so that the tension in the
supporting wires is zero when the magnetic field is 1.2 T into the page.
(b) What is the direction of the current?
(c) What is the tension in each wire if the direction of the current is reversed?
5. A straight conductor carrying a current I is at an angle 0 to a uniform magnetic
field of flux density B as shown in the figure below.

The conductor and the magnetic field are both on the plane of the paper.
(a) State an expression for the force per unit length acting on the conductor due to
the magnetic field.
(b) State the direction of the force on the conductor.

Ampere's law states that the sum of the product of B and Al over a closed loop is
equal to the product of current, I, through the loop and permeability of free space,
,uo, where B is the magnetic flux density and A/ is the length of a small path
parallel to the field.
Sum of the product of B and

Note:
(a) In the study of magnetic field, Ampere's law is used to derive the equation for
the magnetic flux density of the magnetic field.
(b) In the study of electric field, Gauss's law is used to derive the equation for the
electric field strength in the electric field.
2. When a straight wire carries a current, circular magnetic field lines are
produced. Closer to the wire, the lines are closer because the field is stronger.












3. Using Ampere's law to derive the magnetic flux density of a straight wire

Applying Ampere's law: IBA/ = go I over a closed loop
The closed loop is the circle with radius, r. The magnitude of the magnetic field
around the circle is constant and is equal to B.

4. Figure 16.23 shows a straight wire carrying a current, I, into the page.

The magnitude of the magnetic flux density, B, at a point, X, with a distance, r
from the straight wire carrying a current, I is given by: