SOURCES OF THE MAGNETIC FIELD
Biot-Savart Law
The Biot-Savart Law
• Biot and Savart conducted experiments on the force exerted by
an electric current on a nearby magnet
• They arrived at a mathematical expression that gives the
magnetic field at some point in space due to a current
• The magnetic field described by the Biot-Savart Law is the field
due to a given current carrying conductor
– Do not confuse this field with any external field applied to the conductor
from some other source
The Biot–Savart Law
! µ0 Id !s ´ rˆ
dB =
4p r 2
µ0 = 4p ´ 10-7 T × m/A
! µ0 I d !s ´ rˆ
B=
4p ò r 2
The Biot–Savart Law
!
!
! µ0 Id s ´ rˆ
! and to the unit
• The vector dB is perpendicular to both ds
! dB =
vector r̂ directed from ds toward P 4p r 2
• The magnitude of dB is inversely proportional to r2, where
!
r is the distance from ds to P
• The magnitude of dB is proportional to the current
! and to
! dB
the magnitude ds of the length element ds
!
• The magnitude of dB is proportional to sin q, where q is
!
the angle between the vectors ds and r̂
The Biot–Savart Law
!
• dB is the field created by the current in the length segment ds
• To find the total field, sum up the contributions from all the
!
ds current elements ! !
μ I ds ´ ˆr
B= o
4π ò r2
!
– The integral is over the entire current distribution
dB
• The law is also valid for a current consisting of charges flowing
through space
– For example, this could apply to the beam in an accelerator
Check Point 1
Consider the magnetic field due to the current
in the wire shown in the figure. Rank the points
A, B, and C in terms of magnitude of the
magnetic field that is! due to the current in just
the length element ds shown from greatest to
least.
!
! µ0 Id s ´ rˆ
dB =
4p r 2
Example: Magnetic Field Surrounding a Thin,
Straight Conductor
Consider a thin, straight wire of
finite length carrying a constant
current I and placed along the x axis
as shown in the figures. Determine
the magnitude and direction of the
magnetic field at point P due to this
current.
Example: Magnetic Field Surrounding a Thin, Straight
Conductor
! ! ˆ é æp öù ˆ
d s ´ r = d s ´ r k = ê dx sin ç - q ÷ ú k
ˆ ˆ
ë è2 øû
= ( dx cos q ) kˆ
! µ0 I dx cos q ˆ
dB = ( dB ) k =
ˆ k
4p r 2
r = a / cos q x = -a tan q
adq
dx = -a sec q dq = -
2
cos 2
q
µ0 I æ a dq ö æ cos q ö
2
dB = - ç ÷ç ÷ cos q
4p è cos q ø è a ø
2 2
µ0 I
=- cos q dq
4p a
Example: Magnetic Field Surrounding a Thin, Straight
Conductor
µ0 I æ a dq ö cos q
æ 2
ö µ0 I
dB = - ç ÷ç ÷ cos q = - cos q dq
4p è cos q ø è a
2 2
ø 4p a
µ0 I q µ0 I
B=- ò cos q dq = ( sin q1 - sin q 2 )
2
4p a q 1 4p a
Example: Magnetic Field Surrounding a Thin, Straight
Conductor
• For an infinitely long wire the angles are:
" "
• 𝜃! = ; 𝜃# = −
# #
Therefore:
( sin q1 - sin q 2 ) = éësin p /2 - sin ( -p / 2 )ùû = 2
µ0 I
B=
2p a
Magnetic Field for a Long, Straight
Conductor: Direction
• The magnetic field lines are circles
concentric with the wire
• The field lines lie in planes
perpendicular to the wire
• The magnitude of the field is constant
on any circle of radius a
• The right-hand rule for determining the
direction of the field is shown
Magnetic Field for a Long, Straight
Conductor: Direction
• A compass can be used to detect the
magnetic field
• When there is no current in the wire,
there is no field due to the current
• The compass needles all point
toward the Earth’s north pole
– Due to the Earth’s magnetic field
Magnetic Field for a Long, Straight
Conductor: Direction.
• Here the wire carries a strong current
• The compass needles deflect in a direction
tangent to the circle
• This shows the direction of the magnetic field
produced by the wire
• If the current is reversed, the direction of the
needles also reverse
Magnetic Field for a Long, Straight
Conductor: Direction
• The circular magnetic field around
the wire is shown by the iron
filings
Force Between Two Current-Carrying Wires
Example : Magnetic Field Due to a Curved Wire
Segment
Calculate the magnetic field at point O for the current-carrying wire segment
shown in the figure. The wire consists of two straight portions and a circular
arc of radius a, which subtends an angle q.
µ0 I ds
dB =
4p a 2
µ0 I µ0 I
2 ò
B= ds = s
4p a 4p a 2
µ0 I µ0 I
2 (
B= aq ) = q
4p a 4p a
Example : Magnetic Field Due to a Curved Wire
Segment
What if you were asked to find the magnetic field at
the center of a circular wire loop of radius R that
carries a current I? Can this question be answered at
this point in our understanding of the source of
magnetic fields?
µ0 I µ0 I
B= 2p =
4p a 2a
Example : Magnetic Field
on the Axis of a Circular Current Loop
Consider a circular wire loop of radius a located
in the yz plane and carrying a steady current I as
in the figure. Calculate the magnetic field at an
axial point P a distance x from the center of the
loop.
Example : Magnetic Field
on the Axis of a Circular Current Loop
!
µ0 I d s ´ rˆ µ0 I ds
dB = =
4p r 2
4p ( a 2 + x 2 )
µ0 I ds
dBx = cos q
4p ( a + x )
2 2
a
cos q =
(a 2
+x )
2 1/ 2
Example : Magnetic Field
on the Axis of a Circular Current Loop
é ù
µ0 I ds ê a ú µ0 I a
Bx = ò
— 2 2 1/2
=
4p a + x ê ( a 2 + x 2 ) ú 4p ( a 2 + x 2 )3/2 ò ds
—
ë û
µ0 I a
Bx = ( 2p a )
4p ( a 2 + x 2 ) 3/2
µ0 Ia 2
=
2(a + x
2
)
2 3/2
Example : Magnetic Field
on the Axis of a Circular Current Loop
• Figure (a) shows the magnetic field lines
surrounding a current loop
• Figure (b) compares the field lines to that of a bar
magnet
• Notice the similarities in the patterns
Example : Magnetic Field
on the Axis of a Circular Current Loop
What if we consider points on the x axis very far from
the loop? How does the magnetic field behave at these
distant points?
µ0 Ia 2
µ0 Ia 2
Bx = ÞB» ( for x >> a )
2 ( a2 + x )
2 3/2 3
2x
µ0 µ
B»
2p x 3
Magnetic dipole moment
• Definition of magnetic
!" dipole
!" moment
µ =IA
-The SI unit of magnetic dipole moment is the ampere-metre2 (A×m2),
with dimensions QT-1L2
• For a circular current loop µ = Ip r 2
• The magnetic field of a current loop with radius of a and x >> a,
μo I a 2 μo I a 2 μo μ
Bx = » =
( )
3
2 a +x2 2 2 2x 3 2πx 3
SOURCES OF THE MAGNETIC FIELD
Ampere’s Law
Ampere’s Law
• Ampere’s law states that the line integral of around any closed path equals µoI
where I is the total steady current passing through any surface bounded by the closed
path:
! !
ò B × ds = μo I
—
• Ampere’s law describes the creation of magnetic fields by all continuous current
configurations ! !
B " ds
– Most useful for this course if the current configuration has a high degree of
symmetry
• Put the thumb of your right hand in the direction of the current through the amperian
loop and your fingers curl in the direction you should integrate around the loop
Ampere’s Law
! !
ò B × ds = μo I
—
Field Due to a Long Straight Wire – From Ampere’s Law
• Calculate the magnetic field at a distance r from the
centre of a wire carrying a steady current I
• The current is uniformly distributed through the cross
section of the wire
• Since the wire has a high degree of symmetry, the
problem can be categorised as a Ampère’s Law
problem
– For r ≥ R, this should be the same result as
obtained from the Biot-Savart Law
Field Due to a Long Straight Wire – Results
From Ampere’s Law
• Outside of the wire, r > R
! ! μo I
ò B × ds = B( 2πr ) = μo I
— ® B=
2πr
Field Due to a Long Straight Wire – From Ampere’s Law
• The magnetic field inside the wire.
• The Amperian loop is still a circle of radius r that is less than R.
Field Due to a Long Straight Wire – Results
From Ampere’s Law
• Inside the wire, we need I’, the current inside the
Amperian circle
! ! r2
ò B × ds = B( 2πr ) = μo I ' ® I ' = R 2 I
—
æ μ I ö
B = ç o 2 ÷r
è 2πR ø
Field Due to a Long Straight Wire – Results
Summary
• The field is proportional to r inside
the wire
• The field varies as 1/r outside the
wire
• Both equations are equal at r = R
Magnetic Field of a Solenoid
• A solenoid is a long wire wound in the form
of a helix
• The field lines in the interior are
– Nearly parallel to each other
– Uniformly distributed
– Close together
• This indicates the field is strong and
almost uniform
Magnetic Field of a Tightly Wound Solenoid
• The field distribution is similar to that
of a bar magnet
• As the length of the solenoid
increases
– The interior field becomes more
uniform
– The exterior field becomes
weaker
Ideal Solenoid
• An ideal solenoid is approached when:
– The turns are closely spaced
– The length is much greater than the
radius of the turns
• Consider an amperian loop (loop 1 in the
diagram) surrounding the ideal solenoid
– The loop encloses a small current
– There is a weak field external to the
solenoid
– A second layer of turns of wire could
be used to eliminate the field
Ampere’s Law Applied to a Solenoid
• Ampere’s law can also be used to find the
interior magnetic field of the solenoid
– Consider a rectangle with side ℓ parallel
to the interior field and side w
perpendicular to the field
• This is loop 2 in the diagram
– The side of length ℓ inside the solenoid
contributes to the field
• This is side 1 in the diagram
• Sides 2, 3, and 4 give contributions of zero to
the field
Ampere’s Law Applied to a Solenoid,
• Applying Ampere’s Law gives
! ! ! !
ò B × ds =
— ò
path 1
B × ds = B ò
path 1
ds = B"
• The total current through the rectangular path equals the current through each turn
multiplied by the number of !turns
!
—ò B × ds = B" = µo NI
• Solving Ampere’s law for the magnetic field is
N
B = μoI = μo n I
!
n = N / ℓ is the number of turns per unit length
• This is valid only at points near the centre of a very long solenoid
Magnetic Field of a Toroid
• Find the field at a point at
distance r from the centre of the
toroid
• The toroid has N turns of wire
! !
ò B × ds = B( 2πr ) = μoN I
—
μo N I
B=
2πr