CHAPTER 4 Moving Charges and Magnetism

MAGNETIC FORCE
1. (a) Two long straight parallel conductors carrying steady currents I1 and I2 are
separated by a distance’d’ Explain briefly, with the help of a suitable diagram, how the
magnetic field due to one conductor acts on the other. Hence deduce the expression for
the force acting between the two conductors. Mention the nature of this force.
(b) Two long parallel wires carry currents I1 and I2 flowing in the same direction. When a
third current carrying wire is placed parallel and coplanar in between the two, find the
condition when the third wire would experience no force due to these two wires.(c) A
long straight wire AB carries a current I. A proton P travels with a speed v, parallel to the
wire, at a distance d from it in a direction opposite to the current as shown in the figure.
What is the force experienced by the proton and what is its direction?

ANS. (a)Consider two infinitely long parallel conductors carrying current I1 and I2 in the
same direction.
Let d be the distance of separation between these two conductors.

Hence, force is attractive in nature.

Ampere : Ampere is that current which is if maintained in two infinitely long parallel
conductors of negligible cross-sectional area separated by 1 metre in vacuum causes a
force of 2 × 10-7 N on each metre of the other wire.
Then current flowing is 1A
(b) The force f1 on the third wire due to wire 1 is directed opposite to the force f2⃗ on
the third wire due to wire 2. Hence, the net force on the third wire would become 0.

(c) Force experienced by the proton,

As magnetic field due to the current carrying wire is directed into the plane of the paper
(θ = 90°)

Force is directed away from the current carrying wire or in the right direction of
observer.

2. A rectangular loop of wire of size 2 cm × 5 cm carries a steady current of 1 A. A

straight long wire carrying 4 A current is kept near the loop as shown in the figure.
If the loop and the wire are coplanar, find
(i) the torque acting on the loop and
(ii) the magnitude and direction of the force on the loop due to the current carrying wire.

Answer:
(i) τ (Torque on the loop) = MB sin θ

Direction : Towards the conductor/Attractive

Net force on the loop will act towards the long conductor (attractive) if the current in its
closer side is in the same direction as the current in the long conductor, otherwise it will
be repulsive

3..A proton and an alpha particle having the same kinetic energy are, in turn, passed
through a region of uniform magnetic field, acting normal to the plane of the paper and
travel in circular paths. Deduce the ratio of the radii of the circular paths described by
them.
Answer:

4. (a) Use Biot-Savart law to derive the expression for the magnetic field due to a
circular coil of radius R having N turns at a point on the axis at a distance V from its
centre. Draw the magnetic field lines due to this coil.

(b) Explain how Biot-Savart law enables one to express the Ampere’s circuital law in
the integral form, viz.,
(c) A current ‘I’ enters a uniform circular loop of radius ‘R’ at point M and flows out at N
as shown in the figure.

Obtain the net magnetic field at the centre of the loop.

Answer:
(a) Biot-Savart Law to derive expression of magnetic field.
According to Biot-Savart’s law, “magnetic field acting at a particular point due to current
carrying element is proportional to the division of cross product of current element and
position vector of point where the field is to be calculated from the current element to
the cube of the distance between current element and the point where the field is to be
calculated”.

Magnetic field on the axis of circular current loop :

As in a special case we may obtain the field at the centre of the loop. Here x = 0, and
we obtain

In a current loop, both the opposite faces behave as opposite poles, making it a
magnetic dipole. One side of the current carrying coil behaves like the N-pole and the
other side as the S-pole of a magnet.

Magnetic field lines due to circular coil.

(b) Biot-Savart law can be expressed as Ampere’s Circuital law by considering the
surface to be made up of a large number of loops. The sum of the tangential
components of the magnetic field multiplied by the length of all such elements leads to
integral. Ampere’s circuital law states that this’ integral is equal to µ 0 times the total
current passing through that surface, i.e.,

(c) Let current I be divided at point M into two parts I1 and I2; in bigger and smaller parts
of the loop respectively.
Magnetic field of current I1(clockwise) at point O :

Net magnetic field, 𝐵⃗ = B1⃗ - B2⃗

But I1 = 3I2 (AS resistance of bigger part is three times that of the smaller part of the
loop)
Substituting I1 = 3I2 in equation (i), we get

∴ Magnetic field at the centre of loop is zero.

5. (a) Two small identical circular coils marked 1, 2 carry equal currents and are placed
with their geometric axes perpendicular to each other as shown in the figure. Derive an
expression for the resultant magnetic field at O.
Answer:

(a)Magnetic field at o due to first loop

6. A circular coil, having 100 turns of wire, of radius (nearly) 20 cm each, lies in the XY
plane with its centre at the origin of co-ordinates. Find the magnetic field, at the point (0,
0, 20√3 cm), when this coil carries a current of 2/π amp.
Answer:

7. A solenoid of mean radius 20 cm has 4000 turns of wire wound on a ferromagnetic

core of relative permeability 800. Calculate the magnetic field in the core for a current of
3A , passing through the coil. How does the field change, when this core is replaced by
a core of Bismuth?

Answer:

Since bismuth is diamagnetic, its μr < 1, therefore the magnetic field in the core will be
very much reduced.

8. Define the term magnetic moment of a current loop. Derive an expression for the
magnetic field at any point along the axis of a solenoid of length h, and radius r, and n is
number of terms per unit length .
Answer:
(i) Definition of magnetic moment: Magnetic moment of a current loop is equal to the
product of current flowing in the loop and its area; and its direction is along area vector
as per the right handed screw rule.
(ii) Magnetic field for solenoid :
Using Ampere’s circuital law

9. A long straight wire, of circular cross section (radius = a) carries a current I which is
uniformly distributed across the cross section of the [Link] Ampere’s circuital law to
calculate the magnetic field B(r), due to this wire, at a point distance r < a and r > a from
its axis. Draw a graph showing the dependence of B(r) on r.
Answer:

10. (a) State Ampere’s circuital law, expressing it in the integral form.
(b) Two long coaxial insulated solenoids, S 1 and S2 of equal lengths are wound one over
the other as shown in the figure. A steady current “I” flows through the inner solenoid
S1 to the other end B, which is connected to the outer solenoid S 2 through which the
same current “l” flows in the opposite direction so as to come out at end A. If n 1 and
n2 are the number of turns per unit length, find the magnitude and direction of the net
magnetic field at a point
(i) inside on the axis and
(ii) outside the combined system.
Answer:
(a) According to Ampere’s Circuital law, the magnetic field B is related to steady current

(i) Inside the combined system : Magnetic field at a point on the axis.
Using Ampere’s Circuital law, the magnetic field due to inner solenoid S 1 is given by

Similarly due to outer solenoid S2,

Since these two magnetic fields are opposite in direction,

in the upward direction.

(ii) Outside the combined system : At such a point, magnetic field is zero, because
corresponding turns of the two halves of the solenoid produce equal and opposite
magnetic fields.

[Link], using a labelled diagram, the principle and working of a moving coil
galvanometer.
(a) What is the function of
(i) uniform radial magnetic field,
(ii) soft iron core?
(b)Define the terms
(i) current sensitivity and
(ii) voltage sensitivity of a galvanometer. Why does increasing the current sensitivity not
necessarily increase voltage sensitivity?
Answer:
Principle : “If a current carrying coil is freely suspended/pivoted in a uniform magnetic
field, it experiences a deflecting torque.”
Working: As the pivoted coil is placed in a radial magnetic field, hence on passing
current I through it, a deflecting torque acts on the coil which is given by, τ = NAIB

The spring Sp attached to the coil provides the counter torque and in equilibrium state
balances the deflecting torque. If φ is steady angular deflection then counter torque is
kφ. …where [k = torsional constant of the spring

In equilibrium state,

Thus, deflection is directly proportional to the current flowing in the coil.

(a) (i) Uniform radial magnetic field. It keeps the magnetic field line normal to the area
vector of the coil and gives linear scale deflection .
(ii) Soft iron core in galvanometer. The cylindrical soft iron core, when placed inside the
coil of a galvanometer, makes the magnetic field stronger and radial in the space
between it and pole pieces, such that whatever the position of the rotation of the coil
may be, the magnetic field is always parallel to its plane.
(b) (i) Current sensitivity is defined as the deflection produced in the galvanometer when
unit current is passed through its coil.

(ii) Voltage sensitivity is defined as the deflection produced in the galvanometer when
unit voltage is applied across the coil of the galvanometer.

…where [R = Resistance of the coil

does not necessarily increase the voltage sensitivity. It may be affected by the
resistance used.

12. (a) Explain, giving reasons, the basic difference in converting a galvanometer into
(i) a voltmeter and
(ii) an ammeter

Answer:
(a) (i) Voltmeter is connected in parallel with the circuit element across which the
potential difference is intended to be measured.
A galvanometer can be converted into a voltmeter by connecting a higher resistance in
series with it. The value of this resistance is so adjusted that only current I which
produces full scale deflection in the galvanometer, passes through the galvanometer.

(ii) A galvanometer can be converted into an ammeter by connecting a low value

resistance in parallel with it.

13. An ammeter of resistance 0.80 Ω can measure current upto 1.0 A.

(i) What must be the value of shunt resistance to enable the ammeter to measure
current upto 5.0A?
(ii) What is the combined resistance of the ammeter and the shunt?
Answer: