PHYSICS II

Chapter 29

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 CH29. Magnetic Field Due to Current

29-2. Calculating Magnetic Field Due to a Current

Biot-Savart law:

• 𝜃 is the angle between the directions of

𝑑𝑠 and 𝑟,Ƹ a unit vector that points from
𝑑𝑠 toward 𝑃.
• 𝜇0 is a constant, called the permeability
constant.

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 CH29. Magnetic Field Due to Current

29-2. Calculating Magnetic Field Due to a Current

Magnetic Field Due to a Current in a Long Straight Wire

Right-hand rule: Grasp the element in your right hand with your extended thumb
pointing in the direction of the current. Your fingers will then naturally curl around in
the direction of the magnetic field lines due to that element.

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 CH29. Magnetic Field Due to Current

29-2. Calculating Magnetic Field Due to a Current

Right-hand rule:

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 CH29. Magnetic Field Due to Current

29-2. Calculating Magnetic Field Due to a Current

Proof of Equation

𝑅/𝑟 𝑟=

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 CH29. Magnetic Field Due to Current

29-2. Calculating Magnetic Field Due to a Current

Magnetic Field Due to a Current in a Circular Arc of Wire

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 CH29. Magnetic Field Due to Current

29-2. Calculating Magnetic Field Due to a Current

Sample Problem
The wire in Fig. a carries a current 𝑖 and consists of a circular arc of radius 𝑅 and
central angle 𝜋/2 rad, and two straight sections whose extensions intersect the
center 𝐶 of the arc. What magnetic field 𝐵 (magnitude and direction) does the
current produce at C?

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 CH29. Magnetic Field Due to Current

29-2. Calculating Magnetic Field Due to a Current

Sample Problem-Solution

and

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 CH29. Magnetic Field Due to Current

29-2. Calculating Magnetic Field Due to a Current

Sample Problem
Figure a shows two long parallel wires carrying currents 𝑖1 and 𝑖2 in opposite
directions. What are the magnitude and direction of the net magnetic field at
point 𝑃? Assume the following values: 𝑖1 = 15 𝐴, 𝑖2 = 32 𝐴, and 𝑑 = 5.3 𝑐𝑚.

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 CH29. Magnetic Field Due to Current

29-2. Calculating Magnetic Field Due to a Current

Sample Problem-Solution

𝑅 = 𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑠 45°

𝐵1 ⊥ 𝐵2

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 CH29. Magnetic Field Due to Current

29-2. Calculating Magnetic Field Due to a Current

Sample Problem-Solution

The angle between the direction of 𝐵 and the x axis

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 CH29. Magnetic Field Due to Current

29-3. Force Between Two Parallel Currents

𝐹𝐵 = 𝑖𝐿 𝑥 𝐵

Parallel currents attract each other,

and antiparallel currents repel each
other.

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 CH29. Magnetic Field Due to Current

29-3. Force Between Two Parallel Currents

Rail Gun
(a) A rail gun, as a current 𝑖 is set up in
it. The current rapidly causes the
conducting fuse to vaporize.

(b) The current produces a magnetic

field 𝐵 between the rails, and the
field causes a force 𝐹Ԧ to act on the
conducting gas, which is part of the
current path. The gas propels the
projectile along the rails, launching it.

𝑎 ~ 5 𝑥 106 𝑔

𝑉 ~ 10 𝑘𝑚/𝑠

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 CH29. Magnetic Field Due to Current

29-4. Ampere’s Law

• We can find the net magnetic field due to any distribution of currents with
the inverse-square law for the differential field 𝒅𝑩 (Biot Savart Law), but
again we may have to use a computer for a complicated distribution.

• However, if the distribution has some symmetry, we may be able to apply

Ampere's law to find the magnetic field with considerably less effort.

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 CH29. Magnetic Field Due to Current

29-4. Ampere’s Law

The loop on the integral sign means

that the scalar (dot) product is to be
integrated around a closed loop, called
an Amperian loop.

is the net current encircled by that

closed loop.
𝑑𝑠: element along the tangent to the loop

𝐵: net magnetic field at 𝑑𝑠

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 CH29. Magnetic Field Due to Current

29-4. Ampere’s Law

(Current 𝑖3 is not encircled by the loop.)

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 CH29. Magnetic Field Due to Current

29-4. Ampere’s Law

Magnetic Field Outside a Long Straight Wire with Current

For symmetry reason B:

1. Tangent to loop, 𝐵 || 𝑑𝑠
2. Same magnitude on the loop.

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 CH29. Magnetic Field Due to Current

29-4. Ampere’s Law

Magnetic Field Inside a Long Straight Wire with Current

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 CH29. Magnetic Field Due to Current

29-4. Ampere’s Law

Sample Problem
Figure a shows the cross section of a long conducting cylinder with inner radius
𝑎 = 2.0 𝑐𝑚 and outer radius 𝑏 = 4.0 𝑐𝑚. The cylinder carries a current out of the
page, and the magnitude of the current density in the cross section is given by
𝐽 = cr 2 , with 𝑐 = 3.0 𝑥 106 𝐴/𝑚4 and 𝑟 in meters. What is the magnetic field at
the dot in Fig. a, which is at radius 𝑟 = 3.0 𝑐𝑚 from the central axis of the
cylinder?

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 CH29. Magnetic Field Due to Current

29-4. Ampere’s Law

Sample Problem-Solution 𝑑𝑟
𝑟

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 CH29. Magnetic Field Due to Current

29-5. Selenoids and Toroids

Magnetic Field of a Solenoid

Solenoids: a long, tightly wound helical

coil of wire with its length is much greater
than the diameter.

In the limiting case of an ideal solenoid,

which is infinitely long and consists of
tightly packed (close-packed) turns of
square wire, the field inside the coil is
uniform and parallel to the solenoid axis.

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 CH29. Magnetic Field Due to Current

29-5. Selenoids and Toroids

Magnetic Field of a Solenoid

In the limiting case of an ideal

solenoid, the magnetic field outside
the solenoid is zero.

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 CH29. Magnetic Field Due to Current

29-5. Selenoids and Toroids

Magnetic Field of a Solenoid
Ampere’s Loop

𝐵 is uniform within the solenoid and

zero outside it, using the rectangular
Amperian loop abcda.

𝐵 ⊥ 𝑑𝑠 𝐵 ⊥ 𝑑𝑠
𝐵 || 𝑑𝑠 𝐵=0 𝐵=0 𝐵=0

𝐵. 𝑑𝑠 𝐵 𝑑𝑠 = 𝐵. ℎ

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 CH29. Magnetic Field Due to Current

29-5. Selenoids and Toroids

Magnetic Field of a Toroid

Inside:

Outside:
𝐵 = 0

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 CH29. Magnetic Field Due to Current

29-5. Selenoids and Toroids

Sample Problem

A solenoid has length 𝐿 = 1.23 𝑚 and inner diameter 𝑑 = 3.55 𝑐𝑚, and it carries
a current 𝑖 = 5.57 𝐴. It consists of five close-packed layers, each with 850 turns
along length 𝐿. What is 𝐵 at its center?

Sample Problem-Solution

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 CH29. Magnetic Field Due to Current

29-6. A Current-Carrying Coil as a Magnetic Dipole

Magnetic Field of a Coil

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 CH28. Magnetic Field

Practice
7, 11 and 43

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