Biot-Savart Law

Deduced

from many experiments on B field produced by

currents, including B field around a very long wire
Magnitude

dB =

0 i ds sin
4
r2

Like Coulombs law

dB=0 ahead of ds and behind it.

Maximum on plane perp. to ds.
Direction:

RHR #2
Vector notation

r 0 i dsr rr
dB =
4 r 3

Applications

1/r2 depedence

Reproduces formula for B around long, current-carrying wire

B by current loop (on axis)
In more complicated cases, numerically integrate to find B

PHY2049: Chapter 29

Law of Magnetism
Unlike

the law of electrostatics, comes

in two parts
Part

Effect of B field on moving charge

r
r
F = qv B
Part

Current produces B
equivalent

Biot-Savart Law

Amperes Law

Proof of equivalence not in the book

(Require vector calculus and relies on the
absence of magnetic monopoles)

PHY2049: Chapter 29

B Field on Axis of Circular Current Loop

Radius

R and current i: find B field at

center of loop
0i
B=
From B-S law by integration
2R
Direction:

RHR #3 (see picture)

B=

0
i R2
2 R2 + z2

32

If

N turns close together

N 0i
B=
2R
B field on axis, including center
0
i R2
B=
2 R2 + z2

z=0:

32

From B-S law by integration

checks
0 i R 2
B=
z>>R:
2 z3

Like E field around electric dipole!

PHY2049: Chapter 29

Current Loop Example

i

= 500 A, r = 5 cm, N=20

B=N

0i
2r

( 20 ) ( 4 107 ) 500
2 0.05

= 1.26T

PHY2049: Chapter 29

Field at Center of Partial Loop

Direction

of B?

Suppose

partial loop covers angle

Calculate

B field from proportion of full circle

0i
B=

2 R 2
Use

example where = (half circles)

Define

direction into page as positive

0i
B=

2 R1 2

0i

2
2

0i 1

1
B=

4 R1 R2
PHY2049: Chapter 29

Partial Loops (cont.)

Note

on problems when you have to evaluate a B field at

a point from several partial loops
Only

loop parts contribute, proportional to angle (previous slide)

Straight sections aimed at point contribute exactly 0
Be careful about signs, e.g. in (b) fields partially cancel, whereas
in (a) and (c) they add

PHY2049: Chapter 29

Solenoid and Toroid

Another
Read

application of Amperes law

the book

PHY2049: Chapter 29

FAQ on Magnetism (2)

According

to the law of magnetism, a current produces a

magnetic field, which exerts a force on a moving charge.
In the phenomenon of two bar magnets attracting each
other, I see no current in magnet 1 and no moving charge
in magnet 2, and vise versa. Doesnt this example show
that the theory is incomplete?
A:

magnet 1 comprises magnetic ions, which produce magnetic

field due to the orbital motion of electrons and the spins of
electrons. Magnet 2 also comprises magnetic ions, in which
electrons (negative charges) are orbiting around the nuclei and
electrons are also magnetic dipole moments. The force between
two magnets can be derived from the law, although the
calculation is lengthy and you first need to derive the formula for
the force exerted on a magnetic dipole by non-uniform B.

PHY2049: Chapter 29