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College of Engineering & Technology

PHYSICS
Magnetic Field
271

Introduction

In previous module, we discussed the sources of

magnetic force. To complete the description of the
magnetic interaction, this module explores the
sources of magnetic fields. The law of Biot and
Savart will be discussed and used to calculate the
magnetic field produced at some point in space by
a small current element. Using the principle of
superposition, the total magnetic field due to
various current distributions will be obtained. Also,
the force between two current carrying wires will
be discussed including the magnetic fields each
wire produced. Amperes Law will also be
discussed which is useful in calculating the
magnetic field of a highly symmetric configuration
carrying a steady current. Moreover, this module
is concerned with the magnetic properties of each
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magnetic materials.

Magnetic Fields
SUB-TOPICS

10/2/15

Magnetic Field Concepts

Sources of Magnetic Field

Magnetic Field of the Earth

Magnetic Materials

Ferromagnetism

Sample Problems

Assessment

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Magnetic Fields
Course Objectives:
At the end of the week, the student should be able
to
1. Classify substances in relation to its magnetic
properties.
2. Identify the various sources of magnetic fields
3. Apply Amperes law and Biot-Savart Law in
magnetism
4. Calculate the magnitude of a magnetic field from
different
sources

10/2/15

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Magnetic Field Concepts

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gnetic Field due to current element in a conduc

dl

The
magnetic field
caused
by
a
short
segment dl of a current
carrying conductor can
be obtained using the
principle of superposition
of magnetic fields . This
is
where
Biot and Savart law was
derived.
The
total
magnetic field B is
B = dB = o I dl x

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r2

gnetic Field due to current element in a condu

dl

From the equation

B=

(I dl sin )
r2
where = angle between
the
vector dl in the
direction of the
current
and unit vector
B=

r = distance from

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gnetic Field due to current carrying cond

The magnetic field of
an
infinitely
long
straight wire can be
obtained by applying
Ampere's law.
Ampere's law takes
the form
and for a circular
path entered on the
wire, the magnetic
field is everywhere
parallel to the path.
The summation then
becomes
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gnetic Field due to current carrying cond

B=I/2r

Where:
B=Magnetic Field
o = permeability in free spa

I = Current in the wire

r = radial distance
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Sample Problem 1
A long, straight wire is carrying a current of 3.0 A. A
particle has a charge of +6.5 x 10-6 C and is moving
parallel to the wire at a distance of 0.050 m. The
speed of the particle is 280 m/s. Determine the
magnitude and direction of the magnetic force
Solution:
exerted on the charged particle by the current in
This
an application of finding the magnetic field produced by a
the iswire.
current carrying conductor that exerted a magnetic force on a
moving charge. This force given by F = qvB sin where is the
angle between the velocity of the moving charge and the magnetic
field. This angle is 90. First we obtain the magnitude of the
magnetic field,

B = I/2R = (4 x 10-7 Tm/A)(3.0A) / 2(0.050 m) = 1.2 x 10-5 T

Then,
F = (6.5 x 10-6 C)(280 m/s)(1.2 x 10-5 T) sin 90 = 2.18 x 10-8 N
Assuming the current in the wire is moving up then the magnetic field
is directed into the page thus magnetic force exerted on the charge
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particle by theThiscurrent
on the
is directed

Magnetic Field due to current carrying lo

The
form
of
the
magnetic field
from
a
current element in the
Biot-Savart law becomes

B=I/
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Magnetic Field due to current carrying lo

B=I/
2R

Where:
B=Magnetic Field
o = permeability in free space
I = Current in the wire

R = Radius of the
loop
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Sample Problem 1
A conductor in the shape of a single circular turn of length l = 0.400
m carries a current I =10.0 A (in clockwise direction). Calculate the
magnitude and direction of the magnetic field at the center of the
circle.
Solution:
This is magnetic field due to current carrying loop, hence, we use
B = I/2R where = 4 x 10-7 Tm/A
and
l = 0.400 m = 2R, hence,
R=0.400/2=0.064 m

= (4 x 10-7 Tm/A)(10.0A) / [2(0.064 m)]

B = 9.8 x 10-5 T
Note: Referring to Problem #5 of Chapter 30 pp 957 (by Jewett
& Serway). This problem is an extension of a square loop
conductor having length l = 0.400 m which gives a perimeter of
the square loop equal to 1.6 m. Using this value of perimeter in
a circular turn, R = 1.6 / 2 = 0.255 m. This gives us B=24.7 x
10-6 T. This note is to distinguish the difference between what
was written in
outline
as use
a problem
and what
Thisthe
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Magnetic Field from SOLENOID

A long straight coil of wire
can be used to generate a
nearly
uniform
magnetic field similar to
that of a bar magnet.

n
is
the
number
of
turns
per
unit length,
sometimes
called
the
"turns
density".
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Taking
Magnetic Field from SOLENOID

a
rectangular
path
about
which
to
evaluate
Ampere's Law such
that the length of
the side parallel to
the solenoid field is
L
gives
a
contribution
BL
inside the coil. This
admittedly idealized case
for Ampere's Law gives

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agnetic Field from IRON-CORE SOLENO

The field can be
greatly strengthened
by the addition of an
iron core. Such cores
are
typical
in
electromagnets.

B= nI =R
=
onI w
R

here :
o= 4 x 10-7 T
m/A
R =relative
permeability of the
core

n = turns

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agnetic Field from IRON-CORE SOLENO

B=
onI

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Electromagnet
Electromagnets are usually in the form
of
iron core solenoids.
The
ferromagnetic property of the iron core
causes the internal magnetic domains
of the iron to line up with the smaller
driving magnetic field produced by the
current in the solenoid. The effect is the
multiplication of the magnetic field by
factors of tens to even thousands.

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Magnetic Field of the Earth

The Earth's magnetic field is similar to that

of a bar magnet tilted 11 degrees from the
spin axisThisof
the Earth.
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So how did the Earth get its

magnetic field?
Magnetic fields surround electric current, so
probably, the circulating electric currents in the
Earth's molten metalic core are the origin of the
magnetic field. A current loop gives a field similar to
that of the earth. The rotation of the Earth plays a
part in generating the currents which are presumed
to be the source of the magnetic field. The magnetic
field magnitude measured at the surface of the
Earth is about half a Gauss. The Earth's magnetic
field is attributed to a dynamo effect of circulating
electric current, but it is not constant in direction.
Rock specimens of different age in similar locations
have
different
directions
of
permanent
magnetization.
for 171by LDH
magnetic field
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Magnetic Materials
1.Diamagnetic substance which decreases
the
magnetic field of a current. The
atoms
do not possess a
. They are repelled
by magnets. Example: copper & silver
2. Paramagnetic - substance which
increases the
magnetic field of a
current. The atoms
do possess . Attracted by magnets.
Example: Aluminum & Platinum
3. Ferromagnetic - substance with greater
that
is hundreds or even thousand times.
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Exhibits
a use
high
degree

Ferromagnetism
Iron, nickel, cobalt and some of
the rare earths (gadolinium,
dysprosium) exhibit a unique
magnetic behavior which is
called ferromagnetism because
iron (ferrum in Latin) is the
most
common
and
most
dramatic example. Samarium
and neodymium in alloys with
cobalt have been used to
fabricate
very
strong
rare-earth magnets.
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Ferromagnetism

Ferromagnetic materials exhibit a long-range ordering

phenomenon at the atomic level which causes the
unpaired electron spins to line up parallel with each
other in a region called a domain.

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Ferromagnetism

Within the domain, the magnetic field is

intense, but in a bulk sample the material
will usually be unmagnetized because the
many domains will themselves be randomly
oriented with respect to one another.
Ferromagnetism manifests itself in the fact
that
a
small
externally
imposed
magnetic field, say from a solenoid, can
cause the magnetic domains to line up with
each other and the material is said to be
magnetized. The driving magnetic field will
then be increased by a large factor which is
usually expressed as a relative permeability
for the material. A magnetic field of about 1
T can be
produced in annealed iron with an
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Ferromagnetism
Ferromagnets will tend to stay magnetized
to some extent after being subjected to an
external magnetic field. This tendency to
"remember their magnetic history" is called
hysteresis. The fraction of the saturation
magnetization which is retained when the
driving field is removed is called the
remanence of the material, and is an
important factor in permanent magnets.
All
ferromagnets
have
a
maximum
temperature
where
the
ferromagnetic
property disappears as a result of thermal
agitation. This temperature is called the
Curie temperature.
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Magnetic Forces Between

Wires
Note that two wires
carrying current in
the same direction
attract each other,
and they repel if
the
currents
are
opposite
in
direction. Once you
have calculated the
force on wire 2, of
course the force on
wire 1 must be
exactly the same
magnitude and in
the
opposite
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direction according

Assessment:

1. For a current carrying wire, the greater the distance from which you are
to measure the magnetic field created by the wire directed in concentric
circles around it, the
a. stronger is the field
b. weaker is the field
c. stronger
the current
d. weaker
is the
current
2. Assuming
theiscurrent
in a certain wire
is moving
down
then a charged
particle to the left of the wire will experience a magnetic field is directed
a. into the page
b. out of the page
c. towards the wire
d. away from the wire
3. Thus magnetic force exerted on the charge particle mentioned in item
#2 is directed
a. into the page
b. out of the page
c. a
towards
wire loop, the greater the radius d.
fromthe
the wire
4. For
currentthe
carrying
of away
the loop,
a. stronger is the field
c. stronger is the current

b. weaker is the field

d. weaker is the current

5. The magnetic field from a solenoid is similar to that of a bar magnet.

The field is
a. weaker inside the solenoid
b. concentrated inside the solenoid
c. divergent inside the solenoid
d. stronger outside the solenoid
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Assessment:

6. For an iron-core solenoid, the magnetic field is given by B= R o nI,

where o is called
permeability in free space. This is equal to
a. 4 x 10-7 T m/A
b. 4 x 10-7 T m/A
c. 4 x 107 T m/A
d. x 107 T m/A
7. Scientist speculated that the Earth's magnetic field is attributed to a
dynamo effect of
circulating electric current in the Earth's molten metallic core. This is
effect is similar to
a. movingand
charges
b. currentof
carrying loop
8. Aluminum
platinum are examples
c. long
straight current
carrying wires
c. moving conductors
a.
diamagnetic
materials
b. paramagnetic
materials
c. ferromagnetic materials

d. All of these

9. It is a property of ferromagnetic materials to stay magnetized to some

extent after being
subjected to an external magnetic field. This tendency to "remember
their magnetic
history is called
a. relative permeability
b. hysteresis
c. remanence
d. magnetic domain
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Assessment:
10. It refers to a loop of wire wrapped around a metallic core, which
produces a magnetic field when an electric current is passed through it.
a. Coil
b. core
c. Solenoid
d. iron-core solenoid
11. The following materials are diamagnetic EXCEPT
a. Mercury
b. Copper
c. Silver
d. Uranium
12. Ferromagnetic materials are widely used in
a. electromagnets
b. motors and generators
c. Transformers cores
d. all of these
13. Two straight long vertical wires W1 and W2 carry steady currents I and
3I, respectively, as shown. P is the point midway between the wires. The
resultant magnetic field at P due to the currents in the wires is B. The
direction of B at point P is
W1
W2
a.Vertically up
b. horizontal and directed towards wire 2
P

c. Horizontal and directed normally into the

plane of the paper (away from you)
3I
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d. Horizontal and directed normal to the plane

Assessment:
14. Four solinoids have the same number of loops. Which solenoid would
produce the strongest magnetic field?
a. the solenoid with 1 A of current
b. the solenoid with 100 A of
current
the solenoid
A of
current
d. the
solenoid
withthe
0.10
A of of a
15. c.
Electric
motor with
work10by
placing
a(n)
_____
between
poles
current
permanent magnet.
a. armature
b. electromagnet
c. galvanometer
d. long wire
16. What would induce a greater electric current in the wire?
a. adding more loops of wire
b. removing loops of wire
c. Pulling the magnet out of the loop rather than pushing it in
d. Pushing the magnet into the loop rather than pulling it out

These questions are of low and medium level of

cognitive complexity to measure the learning of the
students after the discussion. When you score
below 12 points, you should review this topic
and understand the concept of magnetic fields and
its
sources
before
proceeding
to
solve
questions/exercises
of usehigher
level
cognitive
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References:
1.Cutnell & Johnson, Physics, 2007 pp.662-676
2.Serway & Jewett, Physics for Scientist and Engrs., 2008 pp.
927-955
3. Tipler, Physics for Scientist& Engrs., 2004 pp. 883-901,908916

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