Chapter 28: Sources of Magnetic

Field
Magnetic Field of a Moving Charge
Magnetic field produced by a moving charge
Read Ch.28: HW 28.48,28.49,28.62,28.66,28.80 due on August 6 (during lecture)
0
2

r
B
4
q
r

t

=
7 7 2
0
4 10 Tm/A 4 10 N/A t t

= =
r

r
r
=
Note the factor of
0
/4 the constant of proportionality needed just as
1/(4
0
) is needed in electrostatics.
r

r
r
=
d
0
2

r
dB
4
qnA dL
r

t

=
Magnetic Field of a Current Element
Magnetic field produced by a current element
0
2

r
B
4
q
r

t

=
r

r
r
=
For an element ds of a conductor carrying a current I there are n A ds
charges with drift velocity
d
(using priciple of superposition).
0
2

dL r
dB
4
I
r

t

=
ds
ds
ds
number of charge q
Magnetic Field of a Current Element
Biot-Savart law
0
2

dL r
dB
4
I
r

t

=
Note that ds is in the direction of I, but has a magnitude which is
ds the length of wire considered.
Deduced by Biot and Savart c. 1825 from experiments with coils
ds
ds
Magnetic Field of a Current Element
Biot-Savart law (contd)
0
2
sin
4
I ds
dB
r
u
t
=
The magnitude of the field dB is:
0
2

dsr r

dB ; r
4
I
r r

t
= =
u
ds
r
P
I
dB
Total magnetic field at P is found by summing over all the current
elements ds in the wire.
B dB =
}
Magnetic Field of a Straight Current
Carrying Conductor
A straight wire of length L
u
P
x
ds
r

r
I
R
y
x
dB

ds r always points out of the page

It has magnitude sin ds u

0 0
2 2
sin sin
4 4
I I
ds dx
dB
r r

u u
t t
= =
So the magnitude of dB is given by:
0
2

ds r
dB
4
I
r

t

=
A thin straight wire of length L carries constant current I .
Calculate the total B field at P.
( )
0
3/ 2
2 2
4
z
I R dx
dB
x R

t
=
+
2 2
sin ;
R
r x R
r
u = = +
0 0
2 2
sin
sin
4 4
z
I I dx
ds
dB
r r
u
u
t t
= =
u
P
x
ds
r

r
I
R
y
x
dB
Magnetic Field of a Straight Current
Carrying Conductor
A straight wire of length L (contd)
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
=
+
=
+
=

}
2 2
0
2 /
2 /
2 / 1 2 2 2
0
2 /
2 /
2 / 3 2 2
0
4 /
4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4
|
R L
L
R
I
R x R
x IR
R x
dx IR
B
L
L
L
L
z
t

u
P
x
ds
r

r
I
R
y
x
dB
0
2
z
I
B
R

t
=
In the limit (L/R)
A straight wire of length L (contd)
Magnetic Field of a Straight Current
Carrying Conductor
Magnetic field by a long straight wire
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
=
2 2
0
4 /
4
R L
L
R
I
B
z
t

2
1 4 / ) / (
/
4 /
2 2 2
~
+
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ R L
R L
R L
L
Magnetic Field of a Straight Current
Carrying Conductor
A straight wire of length L (contd)
B
B
B
B
I
Example: A long straight wire
Iron filings
Magnetic Field of a Straight Current
Carrying Conductor
Magnetic Field of a Current Element
Example
ds
r

O
I
u
A
C
C
A
Calculate the magnetic field at point O due to
the wire segment shown. The wire carries
uniform current I, and consists of two straight
segments and a circular arc of radius R that
subtends angle u.
R
The magnetic field due to segments AA and
CC is zero because ds is parallel to along
these paths.
r

r
Along path AC, ds and are perpendicular.
d s r ds =
0
2
4
I ds
dB
R

t
=
0
2

dsr
dB
4
I
r

t
=
0 0 0 0
2 2
4 4 4 4
I I I I
B ds R d d
R R R R

u u u
t t t t
= = = =
} } }
Note: B field at the centre of a
loop, u=2t
0
2
I
B
R

=
Two parallel wires
Force Between Parallel Conductors
At a distance a from the wire with current I
1
the
magnetic field due to the wire is given by
0 1
1
2
I
B
a

t
=
2 1
2
F L B I =
0 0 1 1 2
2 2 1 2
2 2
I I I
F I LB I L L
a a

t t
= = =
Two parallel wires (contd)
Force Between Parallel Conductors
Parallel conductors carrying current in the same direction attract
each other. Parallel conductors carrying currents in opposite
directions repel each other.
Definition of ampere
Force Between Parallel Conductors
0 1
1
2
I
B
a

t
=
2 1
2
F L B I =
0 1 2
2
2
I I
F L
a

t
=
The chosen definition is that for a = L = 1m, The ampere is made to
be such that F
2
= 210
7
N when I
1
=I
2
=1 ampere
This choice does two things (1) it makes the ampere (and also the volt)
have very convenient magnitudes for every day life and (2) it fixes the
size of
0
= 410
7
. Note
0
= 1/(
0
c
2
). All the other units follow
almost automatically.
Magnetic field produced by a loop current
Magnetic Field of a Circular Current Loop
Use to find B field at the center of a loop of wire.

2
0
4 r
r s Id
B

=
}

t

R
I
Loop of wire lying in a plane. It has radius R and
total current I flowing in it.
First find
r s d

r s d

is a vector coming out of the paper at the

same angle anywhere on the circle. The
angle is constant.
r
r
s d

s d

R
R
I
ds
R
I
R
Ids
dB B t
t

2
4 4 4
2
0
2
0
2
0
= = = =
} } }
R
I
B
2
0
=
k
R
I
B

2
0
=

Magnitude of B field at center of

loop. Direction is out of paper.
R
k

i
Example 1:
Magnetic Field of a Circular Current Loop
R
I
B
2
0
=
) 05 (. 2
10
10 4
2
7
m
A
A
N
B

= t
T B
2 6
10 10 2 . 1 =

Gauss T B 2 . 1 10 2 . 1
4
= =

Direction is out
of the page.
I
Loop of wire of radius R = 5 cm and current I = 10 A. What is B at the
center? Magnitude and direction
Example 2:
Magnetic Field of a Circular Current Loop
What is the B field at the center of a segment or circular
arc of wire?
}
= ds
R
I
B
2
0
4t

u
0
R
I
s d

r
Total length of arc is S.
S
R
I
B
2
0
4t

=
where S is the arc length S =Ru
0
u
0
is in radians (not degrees)

Why is the contribution to the B field at P equal to zero from
the straight section of wire?
P
Amperes law : A circular path
Amperes Law
Consider any circular path of radius R
centered on the wire carrying current I.
Evaluate the scalar product B ds around this
path.
Note that B and ds are parallel at all points
along the path.
Also the magnitude of B is constant on this
path. So the sum of all the B ds terms around
the circle is
0
B ds I =
}
0
2
I
B
r

t
=
Previously from the Biot-Savarts law we had
( )
B ds 2 B ds B r t = =
} }
On substitution for B
Amperes Law
Amperes law : A general path
Amperes Law
Let us look at the integral along any shape of closed
path in 3D. The most general ds is
0
B ds
2
I
d

u
t
=
} }
ds u k dr r d dz u = + +
Where unit vectors are used for the radial
r and the tangential directions u and for z
along the wire k. In this system we have
0
B only.
2
I
r

t
=
0 0
B ds .
2 2
I r d I
d
r
u
u
t t
= =
For any path which encloses the wire 2 du t =
}
For any path which does not enclose the wire 0 du =
}
x
z
y
r
u
u
k
u

^
^
^
^
^
^
u

tangential component of ds
Amperes law :
Amperes Law
}
= I s d B
0

This law holds for an arbitrary closed path that is threaded by a

steady current.
I is the total current that passes through a surface bounded by the
closed path.
Electric field vs. magnetic field
Amperes Law
Electric Field
General: Coulombs Law
High symmetry: Gausss Law
Magnetic Field
General: Biot-Savart Law
High Symmetry: Ampres
Law
Magnetic field by a long cylindrical conductor
Applications of Amperes Law
In region where r < R choose a circle of radius r centered on the wire as a path of
integration. Along this path, B is again constant in magnitude and is always
parallel to the path.
Now I
tot
I .
However, current is uniform over the cross-section
of the wire.
Fraction of the current I enclosed by the circle of
radius r < R equals the ratio of the area of the circle
of radius r and the cross section of the wire tR
2
.
2
2 2
2 2
tot
I r
I j r r I
R R
t t
t

= = =
0 0
2
for
2 2
tot
I I r
B r R
r R

t t
= = <
( )
0
B ds 2
tot
B ds B r I t = = =
} }
A long straight wire of radius R carries a steady current I that is uniformly
distributed through the cross-section of the wire. Outside R.
0
for
2
I
B r R
r

t
= >
0
2
for
2
I r
B r R
R

t
= <
B
r R
Magnetic field by a long cylindrical conductor
Applications of Amperes Law
Magnetic field by a circular current
Applications of Amperes Law
Consider circular current carrying loop.
Calculate B field at point P, a dist x from
the centre of the loop on the axis of the
loop.
0
2

dL r
dB
4
I
r

t

=
0 0
2 2 2
4 4
( )
I dL I dL
dB
r x R

t t
= =
+
Again in this case vector I ds is tangent to
loopand perp to vector r from current element
to point P. dB is in direction shown, perp to
vectors r and I ds. Magnitude dB is:
ds
Ids
ds ds
Magnetic field by a circular current (contd)
Applications of Amperes Law
Integrate around loop, all
components of dB perp to axis (e.g.
dB
y
). integrate to zero.
Only dB
x
, the components parallel
to axis contribute.
0
2 2
2 2 2 2
sin
4
x
R I dL R
dB dB dB
x R
x R x R

u
t
| | | |
= = =
| |
| |
+
+ +
\ . \ .
Field due to entire loop
obtained by integrating:
x x
B dB =
}
0 0
2 2 2
4 4
( )
I dL I dL
dB
r x R

t t
= =
+
ds ds Ids
ds
Magnetic field by a circular current (contd)
Applications of Amperes Law
0 0
3 3
2 2 2 2
2 2
4 4
( ) ( )
x x
IR dL IR
B dB dL
x R x R

t t
= = =
+ +
} } }
x x
B dB =
}
But I, R and x are constant
2
0 0
3 3
2 2 2 2
2 2
(2 )
4 2
( ) ( )
x
IR R R I
B
x R x R
t
t
= =
+ +
B on the axis of
a current loop
ds
ds
Ids
Magnetic field by a circular current (contd)
Applications of Amperes Law
2
0
3
2 2
2
2
( )
x
R I
B
x R

=
+
Limits: x 0
0
2
I
B
R

=
x >>R
2
0 0
3 3
2 2
4 4
x
R I
B
x x
t
t t
= =
2
mag moment of loop I R IA t = =
Compare case of electric field on axis of electric
dipole far from dipole
3
0
2
4
x
p
E
x tc
=
2
0 0
3 3
2 2
4 4
x
R I
B
x x
t
t t
= = vs.
Magnetic field by a solenoid
Applications of Amperes Law
When the coils of the solenoid are closely spaced, each turn can be regarded as
a circular loop, and the net magnetic field is the vector sum of the magnetic
field for each loop. This produces a magnetic field that is approximately
constant inside the solenoid, and nearly zero outside the solenoid.
I
Magnetic field by a solenoid (contd)
Applications of Amperes Law
The ideal solenoid is approached when the coils are very close together
and the length of the solenoid is much greater than its radius. Then we
can approximate the magnetic field as constant inside and zero outside the
solenoid.
I
Magnetic field by a solenoid (contd)
Applications of Amperes Law
Use Ampres Law to find B inside an ideal solenoid.
12 23 34 41
0
B ds B ds B ds B ds B ds
B ds 0 0 0 BL BL NI
= + + +
= + + + = =
} } } } }
}
0 0
times number of turns per unit length
N
B I I
L
= =
Magnetic field by a toroid
A toroid can be considered as a solenoid bent into a circle as shown. We
can apply Ampres law along the circular path inside the toroid.
(2 ) B d s B ds B r t = =
} }
0 encl
B d s I =
}
encl
I NI =
N is the number of loops in the toroid, and
I is the current in each loop
0
2
NI
B
r

t
=
Applications of Amperes Law
Problem 28.64
The wire semicircles shown in Fig. have radii a and b. Calculate the net
magnetic field that the current in the wires produces at point P.
Exercises
a
b
P
I
I
page) of (out 1
4
1 1
2 2
1
0 0
|
.
|

\
|
=
|
.
|

\
|

|
.
|

\
|
= =
b
a
a
I
b a
I
B B B
b a

Since point P is located at a symmetric position
with respect to the two straight sections where the
current I moves in the opposite directions, the
contributions from these sections cancel out.
The contribution from the semicircle of radius a is
a half of that from a complete circle of the same radius:


Similarly the contribution from the semicircle of radius b is:


From principle of superposition, the net magnetic field at point P is:
page) of (out
2 2
1
0
a
I
B
a

=
page) (into
2 2
1
0
b
I
B
b

=
Problem 28.79
Long, straight conductors with square cross sections and
each carrying current I are laid side-by-side to form an
infinite current sheet. The conductors lie in the xy-plane,
are parallel to the y-axis and carry current in the +y
direction. There are n conductors per unit length measured
along the x-axis. (a) What are the magnitude and direction
of the magnetic a distance a below the current sheets?
(b) What are the magnitude and direction of the magnetic
field a distance a above the current sheet?
Exercises
x
z
y
Problem 28.79 (contd)
Exercises
B
B
L
a) Below sheet, all the magnetic
field contributions from different
wires add up to produce a magnetic
field that points in the positive x-direction. Components in the z-direction
cancel. Using Amperes law, where we use the fact that the field is anti-
symmetric above and below the current sheets, and that the legs of the path
perpendicular provide nothing to the integral. So, at a distance a beneath the
sheet the magnetic field is:



b) The field has the same magnitude above the sheet, but points in the negative
x-direction.
direction. - x positive in the
2
) 2 ( ,
0
0
nI
B nLI L B s d B nLI I
encl

= = = =
}