Sources of Magnetic Field

Chapter -28

Topics to be covered :  28.2 Magnetic Field of a Current Element

 28.3 Magnetic Field of a Straight Current
Carrying Conductor
 28.5 Magnetic Field of a Circular Current
Loop
 28.6 Ampere’s Law
 28.7 Applications of Ampere’s Law
Conceptual Problems : TYU 28.2, 28.5, 28.6

In Class Problems : 28.3, 28.8

Assignment Problems : 28.38, 28.44

Dr. Rajanikanta Parida

Department of Physics, ITER, SOA University, Bhubaneswar
rajanikantaparida@soauniversity.ac.in
 UPEM Sources of Magnetic Field Chapter-28

Magnetic Field of a Current Element

The relation between current and the magnetic field it is given by the Biot-
Savart’s law. Figure in the right shows a finite conductor XY carrying current I.
Consider an infinitesimal element dl of the conductor. The magnetic field dB due
to this element at a point P which is at a distance r from it is
 0 I d sin 
dB     (1)
4 r2
Where,  = angle between dl and the displacement vector r
µ0 the is known as the permeability of free space (or vacuum).
-7
µ0 = 4 x 10 T.m/A
Equation (1) is known as Biot-Savart’s law.
In vector form, Biot-Savart’s law can be written as

dB 
0 I d sin 
rˆ 

I d x rˆ 
4 r 2
r2
Direction of dB is along the direction of d x rˆ   . We can use the right hand rule for this. In the
above figure the direction of is into the plane of the paper.

Total magnetic field B at any can be written as:

0 I d sin  0 I d x rˆ
4  4  r 2
B rˆ  B
r2
Magnetic Field of a Straight Current-Carrying Conductor
From Biot-Savart’s law, the magnetic field due to current element dy is
 0 I dy sin 
dB     (1)
4 r2
From the figure we have,
 r x 2  y2
 sin   -   
x
 sin  
x
 r
x
r r sin 
x x x
tan   -     - tan    y  -
 y y tan 
 y  - x cot   dy  x cos ec 2 d
Putting these values in eqn (1) we get,

 0 I  x cos ec  d 
2
 I dy sin  0 I
dB  0  dB  sin   dB  sin  d
4 r2 4  x 
2
4x
 sin  
 
a
 I  I  I  I  
a a
y
B   0 sin  d  0 -a sin  d  4 0 x -cos -a  - 4 0 x  x 2  y2 
a

-a 4  x 4x
  -a
 I  a -a   I 2a
B  0  -   B  0
4x  x a
2 2
x  a 
2 2 4  x x2  a2

When the length of the conductor is very great in comparison to its distance x from point P, we can
consider it to be infinitely long.

Then, x2  a2  a
0 I
So, B 
2x

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 UPEM Sources of Magnetic Field Chapter-28

Magnetic Field of a Circular Current Loop

Figure in the right shows a circular conductor with radius a. A current I is flowing
through the coil.
Let us take a point P on the axis of the loop, at a distance x from the center.
From Biot - Savart’s law, the magnetic field at P due to the current element dl is
0 I d
dB     (1)
4 r 2
The components of the vector dB are
0 I d  Id a  aI d
dBx  B cos   cos   0 2  0    (2)
4 r 2
4 r r 4 r 3
0 I d  Id x  I xd
dBy  B sin   sin   0 2  0    (3)
4 r 2
4 r r 4 r 3
The total magnetic field at P has only an x-component (it is perpendicular to
the plane of the loop).
For every element dl there is a corresponding element on the opposite side of
the loop, with opposite direction. All the perpendicular components cancel and
only the x-components survive.
The x-component of the total field B, is obtained by integrating Eq. (1),
including all the dl ’s around the loop.

 aI d 0 a I 0 a I 0 a 2 I
 dBx   04 r3  
4  r3 
Bx   d  2  a     (4)
4  r3 2 r3
Eqn (4) represents the total field B on the axis of a circular loop.
If a coil consists of N loops, then the total field is
 N a2 I
Bx  0 3    (5)
2r
The direction of the magnetic field on the axis of a current-carrying loop is given
by a right-hand rule. If the fingers of the right are curl in the direction of the current
then, the right thumb points in the direction of the field.

Figure in the right shows a graph of Bx as a function of x. The maximum value of

the field is at x = 0, (the center of the loop or coil)
So, magnetic field at the center of the coil is
0 N a 2 I 0 N a 2 I 0 N a 2 I  NI
Bx     0    (6)
 
3
2 r3 2 x2  a2 2a 3
2a

As we go out along the axis, the field decreases in magnitude.

If µ = magnetic moment of a current-carrying loop
Then, µ = N I A
Where A = cross-sectional area of the loop.
Now equation (5) become
0 N a 2 I 0 N   a 2  I  NAI 0 
Bx    0     (7)
2r 3
2r 3
2r 3
2  r3
Eq. (7) describes the magnetic field produced by a magnetic dipole for points along the dipole axis.
This field is directly proportional to the magnetic dipole moment µ.
Here the magnetic field (Bx) along the x-axis is in the same direction as the vector magnetic moment
.

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 UPEM Sources of Magnetic Field Chapter-28

Ampere’s Law:
The line integral of B equal to µ0 times the current passing through the area bounded by the surface.
 B .d   0 I encl
 The line integral doesn’t depend on the shape of the path or on the position of the wire inside it.

 If the current in a wire is opposite, the integral has the opposite sign.

 If the path doesn’t enclose the wire, then the net change in  during the trip around the
integration path is zero;

 If  B .d  0 ,then, it doesn’t mean that B = 0 everywhere along the path, only that the total
current through an area bounded by the path is zero
Applications of Ampere’s Law
1. Field of a long cylindrical conductor: Find the magnetic field as a function of the distance r from the
conductor axis for points both inside (r < R) and outside (r > R)
the conductor.
Magnetic field at radius r < R (inside the conductor)
A cylindrical conductor with radius R carries a current I (shown in the figure).
The current is uniformly distributed over the cross-sectional area of the
conductor.
The field B has the same magnitude at every point on the circular integration
path and is tangent to the path.
Let us apply Ampere’s law to the enclosing area of circle of radius r.
Let I = current
As the current is uniformly distributed over the cross-sectional area of the conductor, we have,
Current density = constant
i.e J  J
I I I I  r2 
     I   2  I
A A  R 2
 r2 R 
Hence Amper Law gives,
 r2 
 B .d  0 Iencl  B  2  r   0 I  B  2  r   0  2  I
R 
  I 
 B   0 2 r
2R 
Magnetic field at radius r > R (outside the conductor)
Let us apply Ampere’s law to the enclosing area of circle of radius r.
Here, I = current
Hence Amper Law gives
0 I
 B .d   0 Iencl  B  2  r   0I  B 
2r
 Outside the conductor, the magnetic field B is the same as that of a
long, straight conductor carrying current I.
 Outside the conductor, the magnetic field B is independent of the
radius R over which the current is distributed.
 the magnetic field outside any cylindrically symmetric current
distribution is the same as if the entire current were concentrated
along the axis of the distribution.
The variation of magnetic field inside and outside a long, straight cylindrical
conductor with radius R carrying a current I is plotted in the figure.

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 UPEM Sources of Magnetic Field Chapter-28

2. Field of a long, straight, current-carrying conductor

Using Ampere’s law we get,
0 I
 B .d   0 Iencl  B  2  r   0I  B 
2r
Where, r = radius of the Amperian circle.
3. Some other result with the application of Amper’s Law
 Magnetic field inside an ideal solenoid: B  0 n I

 0 N I
Magnetic field of a toroid: B 
2r
Conceptual Problems: TYU 28.2, 28.5, 28.6
Test Your Understanding of Section 28.2
An infinitesimal current element located at the origin (x = y = z = 0) carries current I in the positive
y-direction. Rank the following locations in order of the strength of the magnetic field that the current
element produces at that location, from largest to smallest value.
i) x = L, y = 0, z = 0; ii) x = 0, y = L, z = 0;
iii) x = 0, y = 0, z = L; iv) x = L/√2, y = L/√2, z = 0.
Answer: 1. (i) and (iii) (tie), 2. (iv), 3. (ii)
We know that the magnitude of the field dB due to a current element of length dl carrying current I is
 0 I d sin 
dB 
4 r2
Here, r = distance from the element to the field point, and
 = angle between the direction of the current and a vector from the current element to the field point.
All four points are the same distance r = L, from the current element,
So the value of dB is proportional to the value of sin .
(i)  = 90°, sin  = 1 (ii)  = 0°, sin  = 0

(ii)  = 900, sin  = 1 (iv)  = 450, sin  = 1

2
Test Your Understanding of Section 28.5
The figure at right shows the magnetic field dB produced at point P
by a segment dl that lies on the positive y-axis (at the top of the
loop). This field has components dBx > 0, dBy > 0, dBz = 0
a) What are the signs of the components of the field dB produced
at P by a segment dl on the negative y-axis (at the bottom of the
loop)?
i) dBx > 0, dBy > 0, dBz = 0 ii) dBx > 0, dBy < 0, dBz = 0

iii) dBx < 0, dBy > 0, dBz = 0 iv) dBx < 0, dBy < 0, dBz = 0

(v) none of these.

b) What are the signs of the components of the field dB produced at P by a segment dl on the
negative z-axis (at the right hand side of the loop)?
i) dBx > 0, dBy > 0, dBz = 0 ii) dBx > 0, dBy < 0, dBz = 0
iii) dBx < 0, dBy > 0, dBz = 0 iv) dBx < 0, dBy < 0, dBz = 0
(v) none of these.

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 UPEM Sources of Magnetic Field Chapter-28

Answers: (a) (ii), (b) (v)

The vector dB is in the direction of d x r

For a segment on the negative y-axis,
d  - kˆ . d points in the negative z-direction and r  x ˆi  a ˆj
So, d x r   a d  ˆi -  x d  ˆj , It has a positive x-component, a negative y-component, and zero z-
component.
For a segment on the negative z-axis,
d  ˆj. d points in the positive y-direction and r  x ˆi  a kˆ
Hence, d x r   a d  ˆi -  x d  kˆ , which has a positive x-component, zero y-component and a
negative z - component

Test Your Understanding of Section 28.6

The figure at right shows magnetic field lines through the center of a
permanent magnet. The magnet is not connected to a source of emf. One of
the field lines is colored red. What can you conclude about the currents
inside the permanent magnet within the region enclosed by this field line?
(i) There are no currents inside the magnet;
(ii) there are currents directed out of the plane of the page;
(iii) there are currents directed into the plane of the page;
(iv) not enough information is given to decide.
Answer: (ii)

Imagine carrying out the integral  B .d along an integration path that goes counterclockwise around

the red magnetic field line. At each point along the path the magnetic field B and the infinitesimal
segment d are both tangent to the path, so B .d is positive at each point and the integral is  B .d
likewise positive. It follows from Ampere’s law  B .d  0I and the right-hand rule that the
integration path encloses a current directed out of the plane of the page. There are no currents in the
empty space outside the magnet, so there must be currents inside the magnet.

In Class Problems:
Example 28.3 Magnetic field of a single wire
A long, straight conductor carries a 1.0A current. At what distance from the axis of
the conductor does the resulting magnetic field have magnitude B = 0.5 x 10-4 T
(about that of the earth’s magnetic field in Pittsburgh)?
Solution:
The figure is shown in the right.

B 
0 I
 r 
0 I

 4  x 10-7 T.mA  1.0A   4 x 10-3 mm
2r 2B 2   0.5 x 10-4 T 
Example 28.8 Field of a long cylindrical conductor
A cylindrical conductor with radius R carries a current I (shown in the figure). he current is uniformly
distributed over the cross-sectional area of the conductor. Find the magnetic field as a function of the
distance r from the conductor axis for points both inside (r < R) and outside (r > R) the conductor.
Solution: Refer Applications of Ampere’s Law, page-5

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 UPEM Sources of Magnetic Field Chapter-28

Assignment Problems
28.38: A 500 turn rectangular coil (of area 6cm 2 = 6 x 10-4m2) of fine wire is kept in a uniform
magnetic field of 3 T with the plane of the coil along the magnetic field. When a certain current
flows through the coil, it deflects through an angle 0.5 0. If the couple per unit twist of the
suspension is 80  x 10-4Nm/rad, calculate the current through the coil.
Ans: l = length of the coil and
b = breadth of the coil.
Force on length of the coil is, F = B I l
Moment of the deflecting couple = n B i ll × b = n B i A
At equilibrium, deflecting couple = restoring couple n B i A = C θ
Where, C = moment of the restoring couple


cθ
80 π x 10 -4

N.m/rad  0.5

 180

rad 
  0.24369 x 10-3 A = 0.24369 mA
i = =
n BA 
 500   3 T  6 x 10 m
-4 2

28.44: A closed curve encircles several conductors. The line integral  B dl around this
-4
curve is 3.83 x 10 T.m.
a) What is the net current in the conductors?
b) If you were to integrate around the curve in the opposite direction, what would be the
value of the line integral? Explain.

Ans: a) From Ampere’s law we have

 B dl  μ0 I
 3.83 x 104 T m = μ0 I
3.83 x 104 T m 3.83 x 104 T m 3.83 x 104
 I =    305 A
μ0 μ0 4π x10-7
b) Since at each point on the curve the direction of dl is reversed the line integral will be
− 3.83.10−4 T.m

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