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CBSE – CLASS XII – PHYSICS – CHAPTER 4
MOVING CHARGES AND MAGNETISM – PART 2
BIOT–SAVART LAW : MAGNETIC FIELD DUE TO A CURRENT ELEMENT
Consider a finite conductor XY carrying current I. The magnetic field dB due to infinitesimal
element dl is to be determined at a point P which is at a distance r from it. Let θ be the angle
between dl and r.
According to Biot and Savart, the magnitude of the magnetic field dB is
(a) directly proportional to the current (I)
(b) directly proportional to the length of the element (dl)
(c) directly proportional to the sine of the angle between dl and r (sinθ)
1
(d) inversely proportional to the square of the distance of the point from the element 2
r
Idl sin θ Idl sin θ
dB ∝ ; dB = k
r2 r2
µ o Idl sin θ
dB =
4π r2
where µo is the permeability of free space (or) vacuum = 4π x 10–7 H/m
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In Vector Notation,
→ →
→ µ Idl x r
dB = o
4π r3
→ → →
dB acts perpendicular to both Idl and r
→
The direction of the magnetic field ( dB ) is given by right-hand screw rule stated below:
Right Hand Screw rule
→ → →
Look at the plane containing vectors Idl & r . Imagine moving from the first vector ( Idl )
→ →
towards second vector ( r ). If the movement is clockwise, dB is perpendicular to the plane of
→
the paper and directed inwards. If the movement is anticlockwise, dB is perpendicular to the
plane of the paper and directed outwards.
Similarities between electric field (from Coulomb’s law) and magnetic field (from Biot-
Savart’s law)
Electric and magnetic fields
• are long range, since both depend inversely on the square of distance from the source to the
point of interest
• obey the principle of superposition and are linear with respect to source.
E∝q ; B ∝ Idl
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Differences between electric field (from Coulomb’s law) and magnetic field (from Biot-
Savart’s law)
Electric Field (From Coulomb’s Law) Magnetic Field (From Biot-Savart’s Law)
Produced by a scalar source i.e., an Produced by a vector source i.e., current
→
electric charge q element I dl
It is directed along the displacement It is directed perpendicular to the displacement
→ →
vector joining the source & the field point vector r & the current element I dl
Depends on the angle between the displacement
Does not depend on angle → →
vector r and the current element I dl
Relation between permittivity of free space (εo), permeability of free space (µo) and
speed of light in vacuum (c)
µo 1 4π x 10−7 1 −7 1 1 1
εoµo = (4πεo) = x = x 10 = = =
4π 9x 109 4π 9x 109 9x 1016 ( 3x 108 )2 c2
1
c2 =
ε oµ o
1
c=
εo µ o
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MAGNETIC FIELD ON THE AXIS OF A CIRCULAR CURRENT LOOP
Y
dBcosφ
dB
dl r φ
R
φ dBsinφ
I φ X
I x P dBsinφ
dl φ
dB
dBcosφ
Z
Consider a circular loop carrying a steady current I. The loop is placed in the YZ plane with
its centre at the origin O and has a radius R. The x–axis is the axis of the loop. Let P be the
point on the axis of the circular loop at a distance x from the centre of the loop.
Consider a conducting element dl of the loop. The magnitude dB of the magnetic field due to
dl is given by the Biot-Savart law,
µ o Idl sin θ
dB =
4π r2
→ →
where θ is angle between I dl and r . Here θ = 90o
µ o Idl sin 90o µ o Idl
dB = =
4π r2 4π r 2
→ → →
This field dB is perpendicular to the plane containing I dl and r . Then dB is resolved into
two components. dBsinφ along the axis and dBcosφ perpendicular to the axis.
For any two diametrically opposite elements of the loop, the perpendicular components will
be equal and opposite and cancel each other. Their axial components will be in the same
direction and get added up.
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Total magnetic field at the point P is
B= ∫ dB sin φ
µ o Idl R
dB = ; sinφ =
4π r 2 r
µo Idl R µo IR µo IR µoIR 2
B= ∫ 4π r 2 r
=
4π r 3
dl = ∫
4π r 3
( 2πR ) =
2r 3
Here, r2 = x2 + R2 ; r = (x2 + R2)1/2
µo IR 2
B=
2( x 2 + R 2 )3 / 2
µo NIR 2
If the loop contains N turns, B =
2( x 2 + R 2 )3 / 2
The magnetic field at the centre of the current loop is obtained by substituting x = 0,
µo NIR 2 µ o NIR 2 µo NI
B= = =
2( R 2 )3 / 2 2R 3 2R
The direction of the magnetic field is given by right-hand thumb rule stated below:
Curl the palm of your right hand around the circular wire with the fingers pointing in the
direction of the current. The right-hand thumb gives the direction of the magnetic field.
The upper side of the loop acts as the north pole & the lower side as the south pole of a magnet.
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AMPERE’S CIRCUITAL LAW
The line integral of magnetic field over a closed loop is µo times net current enclosed by the
loop.
→ →
∫ B . dl = µoInet
MAGNETIC FIELD DUE TO INFINITELY LONG STRAIGHT CURRENT
CARRYING WIRE (USING AMPERE’S CIRCUITAL LAW)
Consider a straight conductor of infinite length carrying current I and the direction of
magnetic field lines is shown in Figure. Let us construct an Amperian loop in the form of a
circular shape at a distance r from the centre of the wire.
According to Ampere’s Circuital law,
→ →
∫ B . dl = µoInet ; ∫ B dl cos θ = µoInet
→ →
where θ is angle between B and dl . Here θ = 0o
o
∫ B dl cos 0 = µo I ; ∫
B dl = µo I ; B (2πr) = µo I
µo I
B=
2 πr