Chapter 30: Magnetic field sources

Using Biot-Savart Law to calculate the magnetic

field produced by current element
calculate the total magnetic field due to various
current distributions.
Magnetic Force Between Two Parallel

Chapter 29: Magnetic field sources

Magnetic field is not only produced by Magnet stones, but it can
be produced by current when passing through conductors
this chapter explores the origin of the magnetic field associated
with moving charges.
Oersteds discovered in 1819 that a compass needle is deflected
by a current-carrying conductor Current in a wire produces

Conductors

magnetic field

Ampres law

Jean-Baptiste Biot and Flix Savart performed quantitative

experiments to calculate the magnetic field Biot-Savart Law

Chapter 29: Biot-Savart Law

For a length element ds along a current carrying wire, Biot and
Savart experimental findings, for the magnetic field dB (of
magnitude dB) at some point P, are summarized by:

1) dB ds and dB r

Chapter 30.1: Biot-Savart Law (Magnetic Field

Surrounding a Thin, Straight Conductor)

dB =

where r is unit vector

directed from ds to P

1
where r is radial distance from ds
r2
3) dB I , dB ds, dB sin

r I dsr r
B= 0 2
r
4
r
ds r = ds r = dx(1) sin

Determine the magnitude and direction of the magnetic

field at point P due to current I in the conductor.
0 Ids r

r2

tan =

2) dB

4) B-field (dB) is out at P and B-field is in at P

r 0 Idsr r Biot-Savart the total B-field created

dB =
at some point by a current
Law
4 r 2
in a wire is r I dsr r
7
0 = 4 10 T .m / A
B= 0 2
r
4
is permeability of free space

dx
= a csc 2 dx = a csc 2 d
d
a
a
= a csc
sin = r =
r
sin

r
ds r = a csc 2 sin d k
B=

0 I a csc 2 sin d
4
a 2 csc 2
1

If the wire is very long, L>>a

a
a
x=
= a cot
x
tan

B=

I
0 I
sin d = 0 (cos 1 cos 2 )
4a
4a
1

1 0
2 180

then

B=

0 I
2a

Chapter 29: Biot-Savart Law (magnetic field

surrounding a thin, straight conductor)
as a result, for long wire, the magnetic field lines are circles concentric
with the wire and lie in planes perpendicular to the wire. We can use the
right hand to determine the B-field direction as shown positioning the
thumb along the direction of the current. The four fingers wrap in the
direction of the B-field.

For long wire

B=

Chapter 29: Biot-Savart Law (Magnetic Field on

the axis of a circular current carrying loop)
Calculate the B-field at an axial point P a
distance x from the center of the loop.

B=

0 I
2a

cos =

Special Cases:

Chapter 29: Biot-Savart Law (field due to a

circular arc of wire)
For the arc (AC) of
length s and radius a
r i dsr r
B= 0 2
4
r

r
I
B =B= 0
4

Hence

r2

ds(1) sin 90 0 I
=
ds
a2
4a 2

0 I
s
4a 2
B=

Full Circle ( = 2) B =

But s = a

0 I
4a
0 I
2a

As shown in
previous example

0 I
4

(x

ds
+ a2

0 I ds cos
4 x 2 + R 2

a
a
=
r
a2 + x2

0 Ia

4 x 2 + a 2

0 Ia

ds =
) 4 (x
3/ 2

=
At O (x=0)

r 2 = x2 + a2

B=

ds r

We have only Bx B = Bx =

ds r = (ds )(1)sin 90 = ds

B-field = 0 for the straight

portions AA and CC

B cancels( B y , Bz = 0)

Bx =

Calculate the B-field at point O for the

current-carrying wire segment shown.

0 I
4

Bx

0 I
2a

+ a2

0 Ia 2

2 x2 + a2

3/ 2

2a

3/ 2

At x>>a

Bx

0 Ia 2
2 x3

2x 3

Chapter 29: Magnetic Force Between Two Parallel

Conductors
Consider two long, straight, parallel
wires separated by a distance a and
carrying currents I1 and I2 in the same
direction

Since we have B-field from each

wire, and both have currents
Forces between the wires will appear

I I I
F1 = I1lB2 = I1l 0 2 = 0 1 2 l
2a
2a
I I I
F2 = I 2lB1 = I 2l 0 1 = 0 1 2 l
2a
2a

F1 = F2 = FB FB between two
parallel wires
r
r
F1 = F2 Opposite in direction
I1& I2 same in direction attraction
I1& I2 opposite in direction repulsion

Chapter 29: Magnetic Force Between Two Parallel

Conductors

Ex: Two infinitely long, parallel wires are lying on the ground 1 cm apart as shown. A
third wire, of length 10 m and mass 400 g (0.4kg), carries a current of I1 =100 A and is
levitated above the first two wires as shown. What current (I2) must the infinitely long
wires carry so that the three wires form an equilateral triangle?

FB 0 I1 I 2
=
l
2a

The Force per unit length

If a = 1m, I1 = I2, and FB/l =

Chapter 29: Magnetic Force Between Two Parallel

Conductors

Since I1 and I2 are opposite in direction repulsive force from Right (FB, R) and Left
(FB, L) wires with the levitated one

FB , L = FB , R =

210-7 N/m

0 I1 I 2
l
2a

X-components of forces
on levitated wire cancels.
But y-components add

I in both wires is defined to be 1 ampere

0 I1 I 2
l ) sin 30 up
2a
II
amg
Since it is levitated
= 113 A
0 1 2 l (sin 30) = mg I 2 =
(sin 30) 0 I1l
a
FB up = Fg down
FB = 2(

Chapter 29: Ampres Law (Long Wire Carrying

Current) Ex: Calculate the B-field a distance r from the center

Chapter 29: Ampres Law

of the wire carrying current I0 in the regions r >= R and r < R.

With I=0 no B-field

Infinite wire

(a)

With I 0 B-filed form

Loops about their source
We can Integrate
around the closed loop

(b)

r r
B.ds

ds is displacement element
along the loop path
We call the loop where we need to find the
B-field by Amperian loop (current must pass
through the loop in one direction)

r r

0 I

B.ds = B ds = 2r (2r ) = I
r r
B
.ds = 0 I

Amperes law

A line integral of B.ds

around a closed path
equals 0I, where I is the
current passing through
amperian loop surface
(surface bounded by the
closed path).

amperian loops

For r >= R , all curent in the wire (I0) pass

through whole surface of amperial loop

B.ds = B ds = B(2r ) = I

0 0

B=
For r < R

0 I 0
2r

B.ds = B(2r ) = I
0

(I is Current in loop 2)

I r
r2
=
I = 2 I0
I 0 R 2
R
2

But ,

r2
B.ds = B(2r ) = 0 I = 0 2 I 0
R

0 I 0
r
B=
2
2R

Chapter 29: Ampres Law (The Toroid)

Chapter 29: The B-Field of a Solenoid

We construct amperian loop inside the

Ex: For a toroid having N closely
toroid (dashes circle)By symmetry, B
spaced turns of wire, calculate the B- is constant over the dashed circle and
field in the region occupied by the
tangent to it
torus, a distance r from the center.
r r

A solenoid is a long wire wound in the form of a helix

B.ds = B ds = B(2r ) = NI
0

B=

uniform B-field
in the interior

0 NI
2r

B=0

Outside the toroid:

Almost uniform
B-field in the
interior

Chapter 29: Gausss law in magnetism (Magnetic

Flux (B))

Chapter 29: The B-Field of a Solenoid

Consider long solenoid L >> R

net B-field is the vector sum of the

fields resulting from all the turns.

The defenition of B is similar to the electric flux B.

Along path 2 and 4, (B ds ) B.ds = 0

If we have element area dA with magnetic filed B passing through it, then

r r
B = B.dA

Along path 3, B=0

r r

r r

B.ds = B.ds = B ds = Bl
path1

r r
B.ds = Bl = 0 NI

B = 0 nI

(Weber=Wb=T.m2)

Where dA is the Surface vector

path1

B=
where

0 NI
l
n=N

n is the number of turns per unit length.

For a uniform field making

an angle with the surface
normal:

r r
B = B. A = BA cos

r
r
For B dA
B = 0

r
r
For B // dA
B = B ,max = AB

Chapter 29: Gausss law in magnetism (Magnetic Flux

Through a Rectangular Loop)

Chapter 29: Gausss law in magnetism

Unlike electrical fields, all
magnetic field lines
always form loops.
(always there is a dipole).

area element dA = b dr.

Because r is the only variable

Hence,

dA

Net flux over any closed

surface equal to zero
number of line entering =
number of lines leaving
Wire

Electric Field Lines

enter Gauss surface

Summary
BiotSavart law

Total B-filed

0 Ids r
4 r 2
I ds r
B= 0 2
r
4
FB =

B-field due to a circular

Arc of Wire radius R

0 I1 I 2
l
2a

B=

B- field at distance r from

straight long wire

0 I
2r

i
B= 0
4R

B-field at the center of circular

loop of radius R and carrying
current i

B.dA = 0

Problems

dB =

force between two

parallel wires separated
by a distance a is

r v

Magnetic Field Lines enter

and leave Gauss surface

B=

0i
2R

Ampres law

r r
B
.ds = 0 I

1.

the B-field inside a

solenoid of N turns
and length L
The magnitudes of the fields
inside a toroid of turns N
and at distance r from the
center
magnetic flux B
through a surface
Net magnetic flux
B over a closed
surface is zero

r r
B = B.dA

r v
B
.dA = 0

B-field at the center of the circle is

(Ex. 30.3):
But, I = q/t ,

B=

0 I
2R

2.19106 m/s

t =distance/speed= 2R/
I = q(/2R)
R=510-11 m

3.

2.

For quarter circle

1/4 B-field of full circle

(b) F

2=FB= I2lB1

FB/l=I2B1= (8A)(110-5 T)
= 810-5 N/m downward

(c)

Or, B-field due to

circular curve is

B=

0 I
4R

B=

0 I

(d)

8R

F1=FB= I1lB2 FB/l=I1B1= (5A)(1.610-5 T)

= 810-5 N/m upward

4.
5.

FB

mg

What forces affect the proton?

2)FB upward
1) mg downward

I=

Bl

0 N

mg = FB mg = qB , but B = 0I/2d
mg = q0I/2d

6.

(a)

A= l (surface vector)

(b)